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QC harbour authority: high time 'Hi Noon' is removed

The Queen Charlotte Harbour Authority thinks it's high time the sunken boat 'Hi Noon' is removed from its harbour and it hopes letters from concerned islanders will get the Department of Fisheries' attention."We're hoping D.F.O. will recognize this happened on their watch between when the harbour boards were in place," said board chair Lori Wiedeman. "It would be great to get folks to write down their opinions. Having their letters will give us a better chance of raising our profile and getting this taken care of."The 30 foot long boat made of blue and white fiberglass sank at the docks months ago, but drifted underwater to its current position, mid-center of the harbour close to the government docking area.It poses both a navigational and environmental hazard, she said. Harbour users have run into the vessel or come close, Ms. Wiedeman added, and she would like those people to formally report their concerns to the harbour authority.The Village of Queen Charlotte agreed to write a letter supporting the harbour authority's position when it met Mon. Nov. 17, encouraging D.F.O. and Small Craft Harbours to assist in removing the vessel."The harbour is the heart of our village. It's an essential piece of our infrastructure and this sunken boat is dangerous," said mayor Carol Kulesha.Ms. Wiedeman worries that if the 'Hi Noon' isn't dealt with soon, it could cause further damage and become more costly."With a strong wind and the right tide, there's a chance this vessel could come into contact with the pilings or completely block access to the harbour," she said. "Not to mention, if it's still there when summer comes around, we could lose some business."Although the harbour authority has been dealing with its significant debt, as a volunteer organization it doesn't have the resources to remove the boat itself or find its owner, said Ms. Wiedeman. In short, it can't move forward without D.F.O.'s help.Letter submissions from concerned harbour users can be sent to harbour@qcislands.net.