Spanning over nearly 27 acres of natural land, nestled in the heart of Saanich, Panama Flats is often recognized as a regional gem for neighbouring communities.
However, over the past decade, a community organization concerned about the future of the land has pushed for more community involvement as Saanich works on “refreshing” the area’s 11-year-old concept plan.
The Carey Area Residents Association (CARA) is urging Saanich council to prioritize community input and environmental protection ahead of the plan's release later this summer.
Group president Hollis Hodson called the 2014 document “outdated and largely obsolete,” saying it no longer reflects the community’s values or ecological realities. She emphasized the need to name key stakeholders – such as their association – in the planning process to better capture community needs and streamline public engagement.
First used for hay farming in the early 1900s, the Panama Flats have been used for various agricultural purposes over the years. Island Berry Co. was the last one to operate in the area before the district purchased the Flats in 2011 for $2.4 million.
Following its acquisition, Saanich published in 2014 a concept plan to reflect the uses, concerns, and interests of the time. The plan mainly reflected the council's agricultural priority, along with stormwater management, recreational opportunities, and enhancing the Colquitz River, among other things.
Ultimately, the estimated cost for the proposed Panama Flats restoration was valued at more than $9.2 million. A decade later, Saanich recognized that this plan was “unfeasible,” mostly due to the large-scale agriculture component which was a dominant feature of the 2014 plan.
Hodson argued that prioritizing agriculture in the wetland is “not viable,” pointing to the various farming operations that have come and gone over the years.
As council prepares to update its plan, she urged the municipality to involve CARA as the lead organization representing the community, to ensure everyone’s voice, needs, and desires are reflected in the process.
“We want to make sure all user groups are represented,” said Hodson. “This is supposed to be a collaborative process that yields something at the end that we can all have a joyful experience down on Panama Flats.”
Hodson contends that wetlands restoration, preservation, and recreational use should be at the heart of the new plan. She pointed to community surveys conducted by the association, from 2013 and 2020, which showed that, on average, 89 per cent of respondents prioritized the natural environment, while 62 per cent supported an all-weather perimeter trail.
“CARA's thought is that, from what we've heard over the years, if a perimeter trail of sorts could be provided… that would be a win for the community,” said Hodson.
Saanich Parks said it is ready to work with various community groups to update the concept plan to “accurately reflect current use and community input,” according to a written statement to Saanich News.
The municipality noted it has already connected with groups including CARA, Habitat Acquisition Trust, Nature Victoria, and the Colquitz Coalition, among others, as well as engaging with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
“Saanich is delighted that the community is showing a high level of interest in Panama Flats as a park amenity and look[s] forward to working further with community groups and the public on updating the plan for this special land,” the statement reads.
While the resident association pushes for greater transparency and cooperation in the planning process, they’re encouraging residents to share their thoughts on the future of Panama Flats at a community gathering on May 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church (661 Agnes St.).
“We want to make sure that this is the opportunity for everyone to speak and for us to take that information and hand it over to Saanich so that there's no one who feels their voice wasn't heard.”
