On the evening of April 30, PHARA held a Town Hall meeting at the Community Hall. Almost 200 people attended the lively meeting chaired by PHARA President Peter Robson. He and others reported on the activities of your community association over the past year with a look forward to the future. Highlights included updates on our Community Gardens petition and our work on our legal challenge to the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People Act (DRIPA). We also celebrated two of our outstanding community volunteers. Click here for a brief summary of the reports presented during the evening.
Reports (in brief) presented at the April 30, 2025 Town Hall
Paq Creek Daylighting
PHARA has been working to daylight a section of Paq Creek under the school field. While the school district favours culvert replacement, we believe a 10m stream corridor is viable and safer. We continue to pursue discussions with SD46. We’re also pursuing a separate project near the creek’s tidal outlet to introduce spawning chum salmon.
Derelict Boats
PHARA continues to advocate for removal of abandoned vessels and docks. We maintain a detailed inventory and work with Transport Canada and the Coast Guard. Our efforts have contributed to Transport Canada tagging three boats for possible removal, one of which has already been removed. Recent wins include the removal of a sunken powerboat.
Community Gardens
Director Bill Charlton discussed the petition that is being circulated in an effort to obtain signatures for at least 50 percent of households in Garden Bay and Madeira Park to meet the threshold required to begin the Alternate Approval Process with the SCRD.
OCP & Zoning
Area A has its own zoning bylaw, which has not been updated since 1998—even though a new OCP was adopted in 2018. The SCRD now plans to unify all Sunshine Coast bylaws, a move that could diminish Area A’s unique character. Ensuring robust public input will be key.
Housing Density
Bill 44 aims to increase housing options, but the SCRD’s extension will delay changes for Area A. PHARA is urging earlier action to allow suites and accessory units, helping tackle the local housing shortage while maintaining livability standards.
Town Planning
With inspiration from a donor’s offer, we’re working on a long-term vision for Madeira Park—sidewalks, improved access, high-density housing, and public infrastructure. A UBC student study is available online for reference. We are seeking a member to champion this initiative.
Community Sewer
Madeira Park’s lack of sewer is a major barrier to development. We’re exploring a compact treatment system and working with officials to seek funding. The 2018 OCP supports this move, but more political will is needed.
DRIPA Challenge
Director Sean McAllister updated the audience on the latest in our legal challenge and the need to get the rest of BC on side publicly and financially if we are to continue with our court case. We need to raise about $500,000.
Ocean Cleanup
In partnership with Ocean Legacy and SeaWolf Diving, we removed harmful debris from local waters. Future cleanups will expand to other parts of the harbour. Volunteers and resources are always welcome.
Park Projects
PHARA and Rotary proposed improvements at Katherine Lake and Dan Bosch Park, but SCRD has postponed funding until after lengthy planning processes. We’ll keep pushing and invite others to get involved.