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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ladysmith, BC — The Town of Ladysmith has sent a letter to the Province calling for immediate action to address the situation at Banon Creek Forest Service Road, which is within the municipal watershed.
The situation along Banon Creek Forest Service Road is becoming increasingly dangerous and the Town is concerned that continued inaction could result in a catastrophic wildfire, significant damage to drinking water infrastructure, or serious injury or loss of life.
“Without timely intervention, we believe current conditions could result in a devastating but entirely preventable event. We cannot afford to delay action any further, and we cannot continue to accept conditions that put the residents of Ladysmith and neighbouring communities at risk,” says Mayor Deena Beeston.
The full letter can be found here.
Background The Town of Ladysmith obtains its drinking water from the Stocking Lake and Holland Lake watersheds, which are accessed via the Banon Creek Forest Service Road (FSR).
Together, these watersheds—located outside Town boundaries and managed under provincial timber licences held by private forestry companies and Indigenous forestry operators—supply drinking water to approximately 12,000 residents in the Town of Ladysmith, the Stz’uminus First Nation, the Diamond Improvement District, and the Saltair area of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
The area around Banon Creek Forest Service Road is experiencing ongoing unauthorized camping as well as illegal activities ranging from criminal violence to dumping.
Current situation On May 19, 2026, the South Island Natural Resource District Manager implemented a temporary closure of the Banon Creek Forest Service Road gate under Section 22.2 of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA), restricting motorized access to the area.
Since then, conditions along the Banon Creek Forest Service Road have continued to deteriorate, demonstrating that existing administrative measures are insufficient to address escalating criminal defiance.
Gate locks have been intentionally cut and removed less than 24 hours after installation at least six times, while a newly fabricated high-security locking system has been deliberately damaged and rendered inoperable on three separate occasions.
Damage to the gate has also created serious public safety concerns, including an incident in which emergency responders were delayed while attempting to access the road.
At the same time, Town staff have faced increasingly volatile conditions at the site, including large gatherings and instances of intimidation, despite attending without protective equipment or security support.
Town requests The Town is seeking provincial support to strengthen access controls through the installation of secure barriers, automated gates, and remote surveillance systems at the Banon Forest Service Road entrance.
It is also requesting increased and sustained enforcement by provincial resource agencies to complement local RCMP efforts, as well as expedited legal tools to respond more effectively to unauthorized access, trespassing, and encampment activity within municipal watersheds where significant public health and safety concerns exist.
A full explanation of these requests is outlined in the letter.
The Town of Ladysmith stands ready to work collaboratively with the Provincial government to address the issues along Banon Creek Forest Service Road. Related Media A photo showing the Banon Creek Forest Service Road gate cut off. (Town of Ladysmith)
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Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications & Engagement Specialist npescod@ladysmith.ca 250-268-0606
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.