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Land-use message from the
Island Rock Crawlers Four Wheel Drive Society

As the IRC's Events Co-ordinator and Land Use Representative I would like to "set the record straight" with regards to our annual event, "Rock Crawl".

Indeed the rumours are true, the IRC has cancelled Rock Crawl 2001 due to our current struggle to keep our trails open in the Sooke Area, we cannot guarantee that the trails will be available to us in May of 2001. There is a "green" group called The Land Conservancy of B.C. that is raising funds to purchase 3 large parcels in the Harbourview land area (currently owned by a private company by the name of Seraphim). They are in need of raising $5.3 Million by February 9, 2001 and if the money is raised it is very likely that the Capital Regional District (CRD) will take over the management of the entire area. After many hours of negotiations with the CRD in the creation of their Master Parks Plan to include off-highway vehicles, the finalized Parks Plan totally excludes all off-highway vehicles in any and all of their parks.

What does that mean?
In short, come as early as Feb. 9 200, a gate can go up at the Harbourview Rd entrance and motorized access will be strictly forbidden permanently.

Of course if you have ever traveled in this area you should be appalled with the prospect of this happening. This area is the last remaining area that OHV enthusiasts have to enjoy their sport in the lower part of Vancouver Island (that is not controlled by forest companies). If this land closes, the OHV community will be greatly impacted. On October 7, at the IRC's AGM, we voted overwhelmingly that it was impossible for us to host our annual Rock Crawl with our current access issues. We all agreed that we need to refocus the energy and time that goes into coordinating and planning Rock Crawl into saving the Harbourview lands as a multi-use area.

For those of you that have ever participated in any of the IRC's Rock Crawls over the past 5 years, we need your help. I will be sending out a package of information along with a desperate request to help us with our fight to save the Harbourview lands to everyone that has ever participated at our annual event (drivers only as we have no addresses for passengers). Please take the time to review the materials and write letters to the appropriate officials to let them know that you wish the area to be turned into a sustainably managed OHV park. The more public outcry about this situation, the more likely the area will be preserved for our use. For those of you that haven't formally participated at Rock Crawl or rode as a passenger, drop me an email with your name, address, etc and I will be sure to mail you a package.

Feel free to photocopy the info and hand them out to everyone you know, pass the message! For any additional info regarding this situation, check out the IRC webpage: www.can4x4.com/irc or drop me an e-mail.

The IRC thanks you for your support,

Lori Hryniuk, Island Rock Crawlers Events Coordinator & Land Use Representative lhryniuk@home.com