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Moresby dock fate still unclear

The dock at Moresby Camp may be in the water, but what is happening with it is still up in the air.
The dock, which is used by locals and tourism operators to access Cumshewa Inlet, Louise Narrows and Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, was slated to be removed earlier in the summer as it was in bad repair and no longer being used by Western Forest Products for their forestry operations. Further concern was raised when two tourists slipped and fell on the dock.
Several agencies, such as Moresby Island Management committee, Ministry of Forests Parks Canada and the Ministry of Tourism Sport and Art, rallied together over the summer to come up with an interim plan to keep the dock afloat.
But now Western Forest Products, the company that holds the foreshore and upland leases at the site, is interested in keeping the dock for operations based on Louise Island.
Dave Trim of Western Forest Products' Queen Charlotte Division says when the company purchased Cascadia, new uses for the dock became apparent. This turn of events opens the question of whether WFP will share the dock with public users, he says.
He's not ruling out working with the others, but his company is focused on moving crews across the dock. "The question of who owns and maintains it is up in the air," he says.
With that uncertainty in mind, Gail Henry, chair of MIMC, says a committee is now working on several possible scenarios. One involves building a boat launch with a floating breakwater, so people could launch their boats, tie up to the ramp, then park their rigs and walk out on the ramp to get to their boats again.
This type of facility would fulfill the Parks Canada commitment made in the 1988 South Moresby Agreement to provide a boat launch and information facility.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Art is also helping fund a planning study for fixing up the existing recreational facilities on shore.
They are looking at turnaround space, opening up campsites, parking and new outhouses.
Ms Henry expects more news about the options to come forward in November.