About one kilometre of railway track and disintegrating creosote-treated ties of the former E&N rail line have been removed by a contractor for the Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation as it considers how the lands can best be used.
The nation is concerned about contamination in the soil from the now-closed railway.
It launched a B.C. Supreme Court legal action in Victoria last month against the Island Corridor Foundation, which was set up to manage the rail corridor, and the federal government to force a cleanup on their lands or to compensate the nation for work it is doing.
Rather than wait for a court decision, the nation is starting to clean up the site, expecting that more will need to be done.
Once the remaining ties and rails are lifted up, an analysis will be carried out to better determine the level of contamination on the 10 acres (four hectares) of land once held by the railway, elected Chief Brent Edwards said.
The rail corridor’s history on Vancouver Island dates back to 1912 when the Crown granted the right-of-way to the E&N Railway Company, owned and operated by Canadian Pacific Railway.
Passenger service on the line ended in 2011 because of the poor condition of the tracks.
In March of last year, senior governments announced the right-of-way would be returned to the Snaw-naw-as nation.
In its court filing, the nation said the right-of-way had been contaminated by substances such as oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, cleaning solvents and detergents, herbicides, roofing shingles with asbestos, transformers and metals. Allegations have not been proven in court.
Now the Snaw-naw-as is working with several regional districts and other First Nations along the corridor to explore ways the entire corridor can be better utilized for the benefit of all its members and the public, Edwards said.
It is working with MNP LLP, Bunt and Associates Engineering Ltd., and Cunningham and Rivard Appraisals Ltd. to review characteristics of the corridor, seeking to inform decision-makers of future use, he said
MNP LLP is researching how other dormant railways have been re-purposed, reviewing economic opportunities and governance features of the foundation, while also providing project management for Snaw-naw-as, Edwards said.
Bunt and Associates is evaluating active and alternative transportation opportunities for the Island Rail Corridor, researching and identifying potential large-scale network and project opportunities.
Cunningham and Rivard Appraisals Ltd. is estimating market values for land parcels along the corridor, he said. Findings from this work will be summarized for the Snaw-naw-as nation which expects the information to be ready by spring 2025.
