The reconstruction of the Ladner Lagoon footbridge appears to be back on the table.
Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington raised the issue in Victoria again last week, resulting in a commitment from the government to revisit the decision prohibiting the connection of the popular trail system.
"We need to have the lease approved so that the bridge can be replaced," she said. "The province put the footbridge up in the first place, but after many years it became unsafe and in 2009 had to be removed. All Delta wants, after all these years of trying, is the ability to replace the bridge - at absolutely no cost to the province."
Prior to its removal in 2009, the footbridge connected the Ladner Harbour Sewage Lagoon Dyke Trail with Ladner Harbour Park.
Despite proposals from the Corporation of Delta and a local service club, so far the province has refused to approve reconstruction of the bridge.
Huntington said the ongoing delays were exacerbated by the fact Delta established an off-leash dog area and relocated hundreds of rabbits to Ladner Harbour Park.
"Apparently that was a threat to the marsh and everything came to a screeching halt," she said.
Huntington said last week that nature has taken its course and it appears that there are no more rabbits in the park.
"The eagles have dined, the coyotes have supped, and there are no more bunnies in the park - at least that anybody can see or find," she said in the legislature last Tuesday.
Huntington said that in response, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Steve Thomson said that a ministry biologist would visit the park to confirm there are no longer any rabbits living there.
"I have done what I can and now we have to hope the municipality is right and there are no more bunnies in the park.
"The municipality has assured me that there are no more bunnies. I've looked and certainly haven't seen any - but if one of those bunnies happens to hop by the biologist, I'd say that the footbridge is doomed," Huntington said.
