Record numbers took advantage of campgrounds in the Regional District of Mount Waddington this season.
At their meeting Sept. 20, Administrator Greg Fletcher told the board of directors that a new record was set at the Link River Campground with usage up 17 per cent over 2015. Revenues were also up 32 per cent because of an increase in price for waterfront sites, Fletcher said.
Port Alice Mayor Jan Allen asked if it would be possible to have campground attendants in place at the Link River Campground before the May long weekend next year, because “we start earlier out there now.”
Fletcher said that early in the season there aren’t enough sites occupied to warrant a full time caretaker. Allen suggested that perhaps there could be a weekend caretaker starting May long, which would be increased to full-time June 15.
“We are considering doing a (honour system) drop box,” for the campground, said Fletcher.
Given the increase in visitors to the North Island, Port McNeill Mayor Shirley Ackland said the RDMW should consider looking around “for a good spot” for another camping area.
“We’ll put something together in the spring,” said Fletcher.
Records have also been set at the Bere Point Campground on Malcolm Island where occupancy is up 57 per cent for waterfront sites and 27 per cent for inner sites.