The village of Port Alice is reviewing plans to upgrade the village’s only campground.
The company 43K Wilderness Solutions has provided Port Alice Council with design plans and cost estimates for upgrading Ozzie land, the RV Park & Campground at 1201 Marine Drive, which is not a municipally owned campground.
“How this all started is we got a grant from rural dividend,” said Mayor Jan Allen, who explained the report was the first part of a three-part grant proposal which was awarded under the Liberal government.
The BC rural dividend program assists rural communities with a population of 25,000 or less to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies.
Coun. Marnie Chase added that “because there has been a transition of government, we do not know if that grant money is available.”
The cost of the total constructed civil work is estimated to be $266,772.00.
The plans to upgrade the site includes 10 campsites large enough to accommodate RVs and fifth wheels, as well two cabins and a yurt.
“There is spot there for a communal campfire even though each site is going to have their own bonfire area, we just thought it would be nice to have a communal area where people can get out and mingle,” said Chief Administrative Officer Paul Carver.
“The village has made no commitment to do anything other than to do this report,” said Allen.
“We are trying to promote Port Alice as a tourism place to come and stay, and there is not a lot of accommodations when people do come here,” noted Chase, adding “the campground is a beautiful area and we were hoping that it could be potentially beefed up to entice RVers to come and stay here.”
UPDATE: This story has been updated to clarify the ownership of Ozzie Land.