2024 Annual Report Draft

Urban Forest Strategy and Tree Bylaw Council initiated a targeted review of the Tree Protection and Management Bylaw in 2024. This review aims to strengthen tree management and integrate new legislative housing requirements. The Tree Bylaw review will include housekeeping revisions to improve clarity, enforcement and monitoring of private tree protection during construction. More information: courtenay.ca/urban-forest Seasonal excess yard waste drop-off The City offered excess yard waste drop-off options in the spring and late fall of 2024 next to the Operational Services Centre (formerly Public Works). The free yard waste drop-off program was open to Courtenay residents receiving curbside collection through the City who had excess yard waste that did not fit into their curbside collection container. The yard waste drop-off was open weekdays, excluding statutory holidays. Accepted materials for drop-off included leaves, grass clippings, flowers, plants and small branches less than three inches in diameter. Materials could either be loose or contained in a paper yard waste bag. Yard waste collected through the program was composted. Residents who regularly need to dispose of larger amounts of yard waste have the option to request an extra organics cart from the City for an additional annual fee.

BC Hydro funding supports habitat restoration in Courtenay The City of Courtenay completed a substantial restoration planting project in 2024 thanks to $7,500 in grant funding from BC Hydro's Community ReGreening program. The project revitalized habitat areas and tree canopy cover in several Courtenay areas where nature had been impacted over time by our built environment. The main planting focuses included: • Restoring shoreline habitat along the Riverway Trail at the K'ómoks Estuary. • Removing invasive species and planting canopy cover species at Connector Trail and the Copperfield Trail detention pond. • Creating a pollinator meadow at Sussex Place, with a focus on reintroducing indigenous species. • Restoring the Garry Oak meadow and managing invasive plant management at Sunrise Park. Over 900 indigenous shrubs and trees, mostly in the one-gallon pot size, were planted in the fall of 2024 in designated areas. Plants were selected based on current local conditions and the impacts of our changing climate.

The Ridge, Courtenay

City of Courtenay | 2024 Annual Report

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