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The Walley Creek Streamkeepers were understandably worried in August 2021 when we heard that the property beside Pipers Pub (4670 Hammond Bay Rd.) was was for sale. Our group formed when a similar high density subdivision on Hammond Bay Road was granted a development permit within the watercourse protection area. We've since heard that those homes have problems with flooded basements during rain storms, despite sump pumps moving water out. The property beside Piper's Pub contains two important wetlands associated with Walley Creek, which manage flow and filter the water as it flows downstream. For development near wetlands a 15m setback is the default, and the Development Permit Area guidelines outline more details on what is required on specific sites. You can read the City of Nanaimo's description of their watercourse protection here. In February 2023, when the property sold, we streamkeepers wrote a letter to Mayor and Council on behalf of our group, and encouraged concerned neighbors who contacted us to do the same. A development permit for 4670 Hammond Bay Rd. was approved by City Council on July 8, 2024. To see it, go to What's Building in My Neighborhood, and type 4670 as the address and Hammond Bay into the next drop-down box. Make sure the "show inactive" box is ticked above, then click on the S that comes up on the map.. Two pages of the permit are included below for reference. To our great relief, the developer is not planning to create any road access to Hammond Bay through the wetland or across the creek. Also, the wetland areas have been protected as parks, and the riparian area boundary is being respected. What a difference from the last development in our watershed, and an important step to protecting all the plants and animals that thrive in this healthy ecosystem!
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