It seems no Greater Victoria beach has had as many warnings and closures this fall as the expansive sands of Cadboro Bay.
The popular Saanich shore was closed again over the weekend, this time due to fuel leaking from a boat.
Andy Laidlaw, Saanich’s interim CAO, said the beach was reopened as of Monday. The leak is believed to be from the beached Pacific Sun King, owned by Cyril Manuel.
“The fuel spill has dissipated and the source contained by Coast Guard,” Laidlaw said.
A Saanich crew was on hand cleaning up hazardous and non-hazardous storm debris that has washed ashore and Laidlaw is reminding residents to notify Saanich of any new debris found along the beach.
The 40-tonne, concreted-hulled Sun King remains ashore as Saanich is still hoping the owner will deal with boat as required under the law. Manuel said he hasn’t the resources to recover the boat itself but is hoping to help in anyway he can, possibly selling or giving the boat away depending on its health.
The beach warning is only the latest this fall as it was completely closed following an early November storm that lifted a case of hypodermic needles and other materials, such as a battery and a gas can, off of a washed-up boat and onto shore.
The beach has also been the subject of multiple swim warnings (for dogs and humans) following heavy rainfall events this fall that resulted in combined stormwater and sewage overflows, from which the sewage (diluted by stormwater) flowed directly into Cadboro Bay.
reporter@saanichnews.com