New #Nanaimo @SaveCollieryDam blog post http://t.co/ECGqLc57fn
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) September 1, 2013

Particularly good analysis in comments (not usually the case in G&M but this is excellent) @SaveCollieryDam @TourismNanaimo @UBCIC
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) July 20, 2013

Snuneymuxw Withdraws from 30 Day #Nanaimo Colliery Dam Process | @dougswhite @SaveCollieryDam http://t.co/FWxxrc2n72
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) July 18, 2013

• @SaveCollieryDam eNewsletter update — Vol 1 No 5 http://t.co/7DQhAbr2mD
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) July 13, 2013

Snuneymuxw First Nation Calls for Collaborative Process, Intends to Exercise Treaty Rights in Nanaimo Colliery Dam Park Resolution

NANAIMO (British Columbia) – Snuneymuxw Proposes New Public Process on Colliery Dams

The Snuneymuxw First Nation has informed the City of Nanaimo about growing concern it has about the approach being taken to the matter of the Colliery Dams, and is suggesting a new public process be put in place that will transparently review alternatives and engage multiple stakeholders.

"I recognize this matter has gotten extremely complicated for everybody. I know the Mayor, his Council, and staff have been making strong efforts to deal with this complexity, and that many citizens are dedicating their time, intelligence and energy to this matter. Snuneymuxw's goal remains to try to play a positive and constructive role, while also ensuring that our Treaty protected fisheries on the Chase River are respected," said Chief Douglas White III, of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Read more: PRESS RELEASE - Colliery Dams | Snuneymuxw

"(All) I'm prepared to say is council members knew what they knew" #Nanaimo City Manager Kenning @savecollierydam nanaimodailynews.com/residents-voic…
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) June 13, 2013

Email to Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations re City Of Nanaimo's Plan to Needlessly Destroy a Cherished City Park

Subject: Nanaimo's cherished Colliery Dam Park

Date: 12 June, 2013 2:04:26 PM PDT

To: steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca

Cc: premier@gov.bc.ca, Mayor&Council@nanaimo.ca, GeneralManagers@nanaimo.ca

Minister Thomson, 

Congratulations on your reappointment by Premier Clark as Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

I'm hoping in these busy days of your new government I can draw something to your attention:

Something has gone terribly wrong in Nanaimo and the Dam Safety Branch which your Ministry oversees has found iteself embroiled in it — inadvertently and much to its regret I assume. In fact, I suspect that the DSB and City of Nanaimo Staff and City of Nanaimo Mayor and Council wish we could roll the clock back and take another run at this.

I know you're aware of all this: The residents of one of Nanaimo's oldest most established neighbourhoods, Harewood, have been told they will be losing their cherished Colliery Dam Park. 

The Dam Safety Branch has informed the City the dams in the park must be taken down immediately. This, not surprisingly, has caused shock and fear in the community. The dams are over 100 years old and there has long been concern about them. We're told that there has been no discernible change in the structural integrity of the dams, and that there is no new geological or other data that indicates an increased likelihood of a major earthquake. But your Dam Safety Branch has informed the City the dams must be taken down immediately. 

It has to be said (though it's understood this is not the concern (happily I can imagine you saying) of your Ministry) that this has not been handled well by Nanaimo's City Hall. You'll be aware that a decision was made by Council and Senior Staff to make the original decision to remove the dams in-camera without consultation with the neighbourhood. What you may not know is what this park means to Nanaimo's south-end neighbourhoods (and the whole city certainly). A visit to the Facebook page SAVE the Colliery Dams would give you a glimpse.

You'll also no doubt be aware this is escalating quickly and that the City has sought a injunction against citizen protest even before any such protest has taken place, further damaging the badly needed trust and open communications between our City Hall and Nanaimo citizens.

So Minister, I have no idea what you might be able to do here but I appreciate the chance to bring it to your attention in the hope that there remains a solution which protects public safety of course, but also respects community concerns and repairs damage done to Nanaimo's "civic fabric".

Frank Murphy