The district is planning to spend $110,300 to begin phase one of the Stave West Master Plan.
The plan, which was approved in April of 2015, came about thanks to a partnership between the provincial government, the District of Mission and the Kwantlen First Nation. It is designed to help realize the tourism and recreational potential of the area.
All three stakeholders have a vision for Stave West – a 5,000-hectare area situated in northern Mission around the west side of Stave Lake – that would see it transformed from its current under-regulated and often-abused state into a family-friendly destination for outdoor recreation and tourism development.
The money, which will come from the district’s Forestry Reserve Fund, will go towards capital and one-time start up costs ($75,000) and operating costs ($35,300) for 2016. That includes the completion of a market-driven tourism, investment and development study, establishing an outdoor learning alliance with other institutes and organizations and funding for increased security in the area during the summer months.
The money will also go towards establishing a temporary managed gateway and welcome centre to the area. The facility should be running by May and provide daytime welcome services and overnight security from the May long weekend until Labour Day.
To view the plan, visit mission.ca/wp-content/uploads/SWMP_Complete.pdf.