Qualicum Beach Waterfront
The waterfront in Qualicum Beach is tired and in need of an upgrade, especially with projections of sea levels rising and storm surges intensifying.
Click on the drip for ideas that would improve the Qualicum Beach waterfront.
Waterfront Master Plan
In April 2013 - The Town of Qualicum Beach embarked on a Waterfront Master Plan project. The planning process was to consider the effects of sea level rise and storm damage from the effects of climate change.
After about 40 months of studies, meetings, public input and thousands of pages of documents, there appears to be very little in the plan to address the sea defence issue.
A pier structure or wooden walkway located at the exposed waterfront would be subject to wave damage and the extreme pounding of large floating logs and trees than routinely move around during storms. Also a raised pier would not help to prevent shoreline storm damage.
From observations of exposed piers and boardwalks around the world they are typically elevated several meters above potential wave crests. On the Qualicum waterfront a raised pier would critically impact the view-scape.
This causeway concept I offer would help to protect shoreline beaches, park and walkway and withstand the storm and high water impacts.
The 'Backshore' on Qualicum's waterfront is almost gone, could the remaining small piece be saved?
The back-shore zone of the Qualicum beach is the area lying between the foreshore and the concrete wall and acted upon by waves only during severe storms. The back-shore in the story opposite, is a small area protected by the large cedar log in the photograph. Now that the log has moved down the beach, the protected area could be eroded away. The waterfront in Qualicum could be left with just rocks and a long concrete wall.
Securing the log could be accomplished in less than two hours with about $150 dollars worth of materials. Saving the log serves several purposes. It is a tourist novelty and photo opportunity, it protects a small piece of the shoreline and would become a serious safety hazard if it floats out to sea.
Story Tree Not Stumped
A large old Fir Tree held a prominent position on the waterfront in Qualicum Beach for at least one hundred and fifty years. Over these years the tree has been present during historical events that shaped the town, and the Oceanside area. Last year the perch for eagles had to be reduced to a large stump because the top portion had become dangerous. This relic from the past could easily be artistically transformed into a 'Story Tree'. Topped with a replica West Coast traditional hat, facets cut into the thick bark would display historically significant artifacts. At least a dozen aspects of both Qualicum Beach and Oceanside life could be securely attached to the tree. This would create an interest for tourists as well as an educational opportunity. If you like this idea, please pass it on.
The article published on the front page of the Parksville Qualicum News By J.R. Rardon
More Beach in Qualicum
Qualicum's waterfront could leave us beach-less if sea level rises live up to some scientific predictions.
The Town of Qualicum Beach is in year three of a waterfront master plan.
Refurbishing one of the most scenic waterfronts in the world, into an interesting safe and usable space for residents and tourists provides challenges and tremendous opportunities.
The challenges predicted include sea level rise, extreme storm surge, earthquake, and or tsunami. Any one of these predictable natural occurrences could dramatically alter the opportunities to relax on on the Qualicum waterfront beach.
Currently the sandy beach is only available for castle building and wriggling your toes during the few hours per day when the tide is low.The several meters of cobble-rock of the back-shore and fore-shore has to be crossed to be able to enjoy this sand at low tide.
The town of Qualicum Beach has access to a large quantity of clean sand at the pit on south end of Qualicum Road. Twenty or thirty truckloads of sand strategically placed in suitable locations down-slope from the concrete wall could provide a lot of playtime and toe wiggling pleasure this summer. Perhaps the $150,000 dollars for the planning process could be include some more sand for the beach.