The cost to camp at Powell River’s Willingdon Beach is going up.
City council approved across-the-board rate increases last night, which will see daily rates change after this year’s summer camping season.
For example, a fully serviced site will go from $30 to $40 this October for off-season and then from $39.25 to $50 next May. An unserviced site will go from $22 to $29 for the off-season and will be $36 dollars next May, up from $28.50 right now.
Coun. Jim Palm spoke to a letter he received about the 8 per cent increase for the three year-round legacy campers.
“When you consider that we are not directly charging for the use of electric heat that they use during the winter and we weren’t covering those costs sufficiently, that’s an attempt to recoup some of the costs that we incur in that regard, so, we think it’s fair,” Palm said.
Coun. Cindy Elliott agreed with the increase even though she wanted to help the legacy patrons.
“At the time we did try to put an amendment forward, it failed, so I am in favour of the bylaw even though I had been in favour of lowering the rate, that eight per cent rate,” she said.
A special category for off-season legacy customers pay $25 a day during the off-season this October, then $26 in October 2024 and $27 in October 2025.
A number of ancillary fees and charges at the campground won’t be changing.
The fee increases were passed unanimously by council.
