Newcastle Bridge - Over My Dead Body

Newcastle Bridge - Over My Dead Body

Good words, directed in fiery passion to me in 1986 by a pillar of the "then" Nanaimo community. His name will remain off this page out of respect. Time in fact, has moved on, leaving a legacy from him that includes schools, parks and boardroom walls. I know I am treading on truly sacred ground with this idea of a bridge to Newcastle Island. There had better be a dam good reason.

I had some history laid out here for you but it’s really only interesting to me - the point now is that I have shown respect and waited my turn and I do intend to take it or go down trying.

The idea of a bridge to Newcastle is as obvious to me now as it was in 1986, as obvious as was Vancouver filling in the area by Lost Lagoon to access Stanley Park. It is far beyond being an opportunity; it is an embarrassment that we have not taken the opportunity.

How can I expect others to come here and build things like hotels, foot ferries and a multiplex if I do nothing with the gold mine in my back yard?  I whine and try to give away incentives yet I use none of my own resources to attract wealth and visitors – it’s embarrassing.

Perhaps I am a bit grouchy from the hangover after a heady election run. Today I sat and listened politely to a bank employee tell me all the reasons why a Newcastle bridge would be a bad idea, why development within the city of any kind is bad and why she does not want or need a foot ferry, hotel or a multiplex. She also said that the last time she was at Newcastle was over 2 years ago. Oh, she also dislikes my "end" of town, the "end" she works in.

This attitude is embarrassing. Why does something new automatically have something wrong with it?

I compare what Kelowna has done in the past 20 years. I look at the population, economic growth, social programming, and attitude of our then near twin. Now Kelowna is clearly a bigger and better civic sibling.

I have been pitching a "walk in the park". But it’s way beyond that now. It’s a matter of slowing higher taxes, slowing unemployment growth and slowing economic recession.  

Nanaimo: we have a gold mine in our back yard!  I wonder if we are ever going to get embarrassed enough to use it.

There is a Newcastle Development Plan - check out the links at bottom of my home page:
http://www.jimroutledge.com/


regards
Jim Routledge
Nanaimo


The following email conversation & newspaper article highlight some differences of opinion on this subject.  I encourage you to start learning about Newcastle - the history, the present situation and decide for yourself what part it might play in Nanaimo's future.

From: "Volker Grady" <v.grady@coasthotels.com>

Date: December 2, 2011 9:31:29 AM PST

To: "Jim Routledge" <jim@jimroutledge.com>

Cc: "Bill Merrilees" <bmerilees@hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: The attached facility is rather inspiring, can you see it on Newcastle? I can...

Thanks Jim

I wonder what mandate the Newcastle Island Society has.

I am very disappointed and concerned about their attitude towards accessibility to the Island. 

Ferry access has never worked and never will and that is why we need the bridge.

Ask how many locals have been on the Island and you will be shocked.  We have become a very lazy and spoiled society and can't be bothered with the hassle of dealing with yet another ferry.  

What good is "status and appeal" if nobody ever goes over there and how do you take that to the bank anyway?

I have traveled a lot and have catered to tourists for 37 years in my career to learn that the attention span of visitors (thanks to technology) is getting shorter and their craving for more exciting experiences is getting more intense.  Therefore if an attraction is too cumbersome to access it drops off their itinerary like a hot potato.  Ferries are too vulnerable for many reasons and reputable tour operators can not include them as they pose a huge liability.  So if that isn't a show stopper I don't know what is.  We may as well move on right now and not waste another 12 years before the political will learns again the hard way that they should listen to experts in tourism if in fact they are sincere about wanting our economy to improve.

Why am I bellyaching you ask? I see Newcastle as one of the most promising attractions we desperately need in order to draw more tourists into Nanaimo.  

More tourists means more Hotels will come and everybody wins at the end since that is what seems to concern the Mayor the most right now.

We must be a tourist destination first before we can expect any serious conventions to book our Conference Centre.  Our industry, specialists and the City's own expensive studies told politicians that a decade ago, but they know better of course.  Anyway, give tourists a good reason to come and we'll need more Hotels, earn the "destination" status and conventions will follow.  It's that simple.  If that isn't prudent economic development then I don't know what is.  

Newcastle is potentially to Nanaimo what Stanley Park is to Vancouver and we are missing out on serious traffic the Island is liable to generate.

I am all about sustainability, which is why I suggested that the bridge must be controlled.  It must not be free, except for locals who get certain privileges of sorts. 

Tourists have a perception that if it is free it can't be any good so they stay away and look for serious experiences and bragging rights elsewhere. 

No point having a bridge though without the infrastructure that first and foremost protects and celebrates the natural, historical and cultural attributes Newcastle Island offers.

That is why access must be controlled, otherwise you'll have bunch of "occupy Nanaimo" activists pitch their tents over there before too long.

Sorry for being so blunt today, but after being subjected to 12 years of political arrogance I am not going to hold back any more.

Best regards,

Volker Grady

General Manager

...at your service!

Coast Bastion Inn
Tel. (250) 753-6601

Direct: (250) 753-2977 x 2201
Fax (250) 753-4155

>>> Jim Routledge <jim@jimroutledge.com> 12/1/2011 10:18 PM >>>

Good to hear Volker - a little controversy helps to raise awareness.  I went to a meeting of the Newcastle Island Society (NCIS they say)  today and also applied for membership - I cant beat these guys so I figured it best to join them.  They are good people, a small group comprised of 3 retired gentleman and a lady plus the owner of a pub where we met. I understand there are a few more who missed this meeting.

I worked with Bill Merilees at Newcastle in 1985/6 when I was manager of the Newcastle Island Pavilion Society (NIPS).  NCIS is a refined descendant of NIPS.  Bill is a well respected Naturalist, Author, Newcastle Island Expert and long time Provincial Park Staff member.  He loves Newcastle Island and wants the world to see it, by boat only however.   We are so close on our views about Newcastle Island that we can shake hands through the fence that separates us.

I hope that one way or the other our "controversy" will get people talking, thinking and moving towards improved access.

I am inspired by this group - they treated me with respect and welcomed my thoughts today.  I learned from them and am making new connections as a result.

Today after the meeting, I was invited to do a Shaw TV interview on Dec 8 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the Shaw Building on Boban Rd.  

Kait Burgan the host, was going to try to get Bill Merilees also, so as to weigh the pros & cons of a bridge.  I hope Bill accepts the invitation.

I am curious how the vote to accept my NCIS membership application will go.  It could be front page drama if declined :)

Bill - for the record - Volker is the manager of the Coast Bastion (he is the new Lou Rolefson)  Volker found and kept a copy of the LEAD study - what does that say?

Regards

Jim Routledge  250 616 2151

jim@jimroutledge.com

www.jimroutledge.com

www.jimsworld2012.blogspot.com

Twitter: @JimRoutledge

FaceBook: facebook/routledgejim

6021 Hammmond Bay Rd.,

Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9T 5M4

On 2011-12-01, at 7:09 PM, Volker Grady wrote: 

http://www.tillicumvillage.com/

...all it needs is a bridge!

Who are those Newcastle Society people anyway?

What credential do they have?

Any authority?  I think not!

Don't get discouraged.

Cheers,

Volker

NANAIMO BULLETIN Nov 30, 2011 Front Page

Newcastle Island Bridge in the News

30-11-2011

A further examination of a pedestrian bridge

Routledge continues to test waters for bridge to Newcastle

LINK TO STORY IN BULLETIN NEWSPAPER:

http://www.jimroutledge.com/index.php?news&nid=10