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Rising sea levels should nix Cowichan Bay causeway rezoning

Climate change is real. Raising sea levels are a fact.
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Rising sea levels should nix Cowichan Bay causeway rezoning

Climate change is real. Raising sea levels are a fact.

There is a small minoriy who deny this. They are not a problem because they are not believed and are a small minority. The problem is the large number of the public and politicians who believe, but don’t want to do anything about it; yet. Maybe later or maybe someone else will do it because it is just not practical right now.

A case in point is the rezoning application for the Cowichan Bay causeway. This winter, the causeway came perilously close to being awash. A storm surge combined with a high — but not king — tide left the causeway with amost no freeboard. The causeway’s vulnerability is no secret. Check out the CVRD’s own King Tide Project. We are already at a place where a storm surge combined with a king tide will breach the causeway. When it will happen is not certain but with rising sea levels it is certain to happen. No pollution mitigation systems work underwater.

Some of our local politicians are aware and willing to act but the majority seem to like the status quo. Change will be difficult and disruptive but the time to start is now. Right here, right now. Our leaders need to lead.

Cal Bellerive

Cowichan Bay