Cox Bay is one of the most prized beaches for local surfers. It continues to draw a large number of visiting surfers as well. The bay, bordered by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the south side, is approximately three kilometres long. It has year round surf.
Currently development is located on the north end consists of two resorts and a vacation condominium development. The centre of the bay has two private residences on it and is the site of a former campground. The south end is still pristine.
There is a 215-acre lot that is currently for sale at Cox Bay. There was a large development plan in the works for several resorts on the site in 2006, but it has since been tabled.
The owner of the property recently submitted an application to the District of Tofino to rezone a portion of the property (from the Cox Bay path to the border of the national park) into four lots, roughly 10 acres each. Because the property is already zoned for this purpose, the owner will be allowed to go forward.
The general feeling is that the buyers of these lots will seek further rezoning and subdivisions on the sites. The area is designated for tourism development in Tofino’s Official Community Plan.
Surfrider is concerned with the impact of future development on the foreshore on this already highly used beach. We will be keeping a close eye on any potential development to ensure it has the least negative environmental impact.
Maybe someone wants to buy this beautiful property and make it a park?!!!
Surfrider supports the Living Oceans Society in their endeavours to protect the British Columbia coastline from Offshore Oil and Gas Industry.
The provincial government is considering lifting the moratorium on offshore oil and gas. Get involved and help keep our coast oil free.
Beach clean-ups are a regular occurrence for Surfrider members. Cox Bay and Chesterman are the most highly used beaches in Tofino, so most of our clean-ups happen there.
In cooperation with other local environmental and community organizations such as the Raincoast Education Society-Raincoast Interpretive Centre, Pacific Rim Whale Festival, Parks Canada and Friends of Clayoquot Sound we undertake regular beach clean-ups.
We also get a lot help from local businesses such as Breakers Deli who donate supplies such as biodegradable garbage bags, gloves and equipment to help us remove the larger items taken off the beaches.
Thanks to everyone who comes out and helps keep our oceans and beaches clean!
Please check out our Events page to find out when the next beach clean is going down.
Pay Parking is scrapped in Tofino!
The summer of 2007 saw the District of Tofino implement a six-month
trial period of pay parking. This included specified areas downtown
and two local beaches - Cox Bay and South Chesterman. The cost for
parking was $2 an hour and $5 per day. A pass was available for purchase
for local residents at a cost of $50. However, separate passes had
to be purchased for different areas.
Surfrider wrote to the mayor and council to express our opposition
to the program, which goes against our mandate to facilitate public
access to beaches. Read
Letter
Surfrider Tofino believes that all beach access should be free for
all users.
In November 2007, council decided to remove the meters and signage
related to the pay parking program following the six-month trial period.
It has been discontinued for now.
Related Articles:
Tofino pay parking plan scrapped
The Tofino Chapter fundraised for public facilities at Cox Bay in 2003. Through movie nights (thanks Billabong and Surf Sister!), DJ nights (thanks DJ Jonny Jenkins and Adam!), we managed to raise $5,000 towards the washroom at Cox Bay. As part of a condominium development being constructed at Cox Bay, the district negotiated additional public washroom and shower facilities, as well as parking and a public path to the beach.
North Chesterman is also in desperate need of public facilities and we were happy to find out it made the District of Tofino budget for 2008.
DOGGY BAGS: Surfrider is actively working with the sistrict to put doggy bags at all our beaches so people can clean up after their pets.
RECYCLE BOXES: Surfrider is also working with district to provide recycle boxes at all local beaches.
BIKE RACKS: Biking is an environmentally friendly way to get to the beach and surf. We’re currently working with District to get bike racks set up at all local beaches.
Respect the Beach (RTB) is an award-winning coastal educational program that includes field trips, classroom lectures, handouts, video, and hands-on projects designed to explain coastal watershed processes, shoreline ecology and coastal areas stewardship to K-12 students and community groups. The Respect the Beach program is brought into classrooms by Surfrider members, who represent ocean environmentalism from the surfer's perspective, and who are role models that students can relate to.
We are currently working with our local Raincoast Interpretive Centre in getting this great program into Wickaninnish Elementary School in Tofino.
SEWAGE: Currently the District of Tofino has primary sewage treatment, or grinding. Surfrider finds this unacceptable and encourages Tofino to move to secondary treatment.
In October 2007, the provincial Ministry of Environment imposed a time limit of five years for Tofino to come up with at least some of the money to begin treating its sewage. Tofino council had originally voted to implement the liquid waste management plan, and the construction of the treatment plant, over a 20-year period.
Representatives from the ministry confirmed at the time the district
had exceeded its outflow permit on at least two occasions, likely
due to storm water entering the system.
The district has not exceeded provincially accepted levels for fecal
coliform, ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate concentration at the outfall
point.
Surfrider will be closely following the proceedings of the imposed 5 year time limit for Tofino to move to secondary treatment.
Related Articles
Province tells Tofino to treat sewage
discharge - Five year timeframe - October 11, 2007
