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Ladysmith, BC — The Town of Ladysmith is pleased to announce that it has acquired 5.68 hectares of property on the southern slopes of Arbutus Hump for ecological protection and preservation as parkland.
The land, which had been owned by District Development Group (DDG), is located southeast of the Town’s water treatment facility.
A significant portion of the property is within the provincially red-listed Douglas Fir Arbutus Ecosystem. The remaining portions have been identified as having the potential for ecosystem recruitment, meaning that with invasive plant removal and property care, the red-listed ecosystem will expand.
“This is a significant win for our community. Protecting the Arbutus Hump means future generations will be able to enjoy and experience this remarkable natural area. We are proud to secure this land as parkland and look forward to seeing it thoughtfully integrated into our beloved parks and trails system,” says Mayor Deena Beeston.
The Town acquired the land as part of an agreement with District Development Group, which owns another undeveloped property in the Southwestern Holland Creek neighbourhood which it plans to develop.
Under the agreement, which was a condition of zoning amendments, the Town allowed District Development Group to transfer density to their other land holdings in exchange for the parkland. This eliminated the need for DDG to construct two crossings over Creek, resulting in a smaller ecological footprint without reducing the number of housing units.
In addition to being an important ecological landmark in Ladysmith, Arbutus Hump offers stunning views and will eventually host a recreational trail network with direct connectivity to the Holland Creek and Stocking/Heart Lake trail networks.
The protection of the Arbutus Hump and the surrounding lands from development are consistent with the Official Community Plan and are in alignment with the Holland Creek Area Plan. Other areas of Arbutus Hump, including the summit, which is currently owned by another developer, are secured for future parkland protection by covenant.
The Town can also purchase the remaining portions of the red-listed ecosystem under a covenant registered on the land.
“Current and future Arbutus Hump acquisitions constitute the most significant park acquisition for the Town in decades, both in terms of ecological and amenity value as well as size,” says Jake Belobaba, the Town’s Director of Development Services.
The first order of business for the new park is removing and slowing the spread of invasive plants. The Town has been in contact with Ladysmith Broom Busters, who will be authorized to start removing invasive plants for the 2026 broom busting season. The Town is also exploring the use of goats to assist in the removal of these invasive plants.
The newly acquired parkland has not been named.
Residents interested in helping remove invasive plants from the newly acquired parkland can contact hollandcreekinvasives@gmail.com for more information.
The Town of Ladysmith respectfully acknowledges that we gather and work on the unceded territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
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Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications & Engagement Specialist npescod@ladysmith.ca 250-268-0606 Related Media
Ariel photos of Arbutus Hump parkland that was purchased by the Town. (Town of Ladysmith). Video footage can be provided upon request.