Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Tel: 250-245-6400 Fax: 250-245-6411 Email: info@ladysmith.ca
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ladysmith, BC — The Town of Ladysmith is once again calling on the Province to take immediate emergency action to address ongoing safety and watershed protection concerns along the Banon Creek Forest Service Road, following a recent human-caused wildfire in the area.
On June 26, 2026, the Town wrote to the Province requesting immediate action to address ongoing issues along the Banon Creek Forest Service Road. The Town’s requests included support to strengthen access controls, increased enforcement against unauthorized access, trespassing and encampments within municipal watersheds, and expedited legal tools to better protect public health and safety.
To date, the Town has not received a response from the Province.
On August 18, a human-caused wildfire (V61699) occurred in the area. This followed another human-caused brush fire in the same area just weeks earlier.
On August 21, the Town sent a follow-up letter to the Province reiterating its concerns and demanding immediate emergency action, including the humane relocation of individuals currently occupying or accessing areas within the watershed.
The full letter can be found here.
The situation along the Banon Creek Forest Service Road remains extremely concerning. The Town is deeply alarmed that continued inaction could result in a catastrophic wildfire, significant damage to critical drinking water infrastructure, or serious injury or loss of life.
“We are asking that the Province take action to address the ongoing risks and ensure individuals are relocated in a humane manner away from our watershed," says Mayor Deena Beeston. "Every day of inaction increases the risk to Ladysmith’s watershed, drinking water infrastructure and the safety of those in the area. We must protect these resources that are needed by everyone in the area.”
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.
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.
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 multiple occasions.
Due to potential fire risks because of repeated vandalism, the gate is no longer locked and access is unrestricted.
“The Town has taken every reasonable step within its authority to protect our watershed. However, repeated vandalism and damage to the gate and locking system have resulted in significant costs to taxpayers. Continuously repairing and replacing these systems is not sustainable, which is among one of the many reasons why we're calling on the Province to immediately address the situation," says Nicholas Pescod, the Town's Communication & Engagement Specialist.
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Media Contact Nicholas Pescod Communications & Engagement Specialist communications@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.