Sep
6
Submitted by James Bay Neighbourhood Association Board
James Bay residents are more familiar with Greater Victoria Harbour Authority operations than others in the greater Victoria region and are more dissatisfied with some of these operations, especially with those connected with Ogden Point.
This finding comes from a James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) review of the 2010 Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) Reputational Survey Final Report II (January 2011). The GVHA study, conducted by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., was released by GVHA in April. The report, available on the GVHA web-site, presents survey results but does not provide an analysis of the information gathered from residents of James Bay (JB).
The Malatest survey's Residents section involved 851 respondents, 200 of them (23.5%) from JB. Other residents surveyed included 210 from other Victoria neighbourhoods, 176 from Esquimalt, and 265 from the broader Capital Regional District (CRD).
GVHA shared the data from the residents' section of the survey with JBNA. The data were assessed, and nine areas where residents of JB expressed a significantly different response from other residents within the CRD were identified.
Significant differences between JB residents and others occurred when a JB response percentage was:
- more than 10 points higher than the all other response percentage, or
- greater than or equal to 1.5 times the all other response percentage.
Familiarity with GVHA
The Residents section of survey responses, when analysed by area, suggests that JB residents are considerably more "in touch" with GVHA activities than residents elsewhere, with more than double the "contact with GVHA" interactions (15.5%) than other residents (6.5%). JB residents were also more forthcoming in providing suggestions throughout the survey. 71.5% of JB residents, compared to 56.7% of other residents, provided comments (167 in all) on improving management. These comments bear considerable similarity to the comments received in the responses to the 2009 James Bay Residents' Survey.
JB residents self-identified the JBNA as a residents' association more frequently than residents in other areas mentioned their associations. 11 JB respondents (5.5%) identified JBNA while the Esquimalt and VicWest associations were each identified by one resident (0.3%). No other JB community organization was identified in the JB responses.
Differences
For much of the survey both residents of JB and other residents expressed a similar level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with GVHA performance, including facility maintenance/management, communications, and harbour leadership. However, for some survey questions, there are distinct differences between JB resident responses and all other resident responses.
Overall, 23.6% of JB residents, compared to 16.2% of other residents, were dissatisfied with GVHA's 'balancing' of social, environmental and economic impacts in Victoria's harbour.
The Malatest report suggests that 92% of Ogden Point clients were satisfied with management of cruise tourism services while just 66% of all residents were satisfied. By examining the number of respondents dissatisfied with operations at the Ogden Point facility, contrasts between JB resident responses and responses from residents beyond JB were identified in management of cruise tourism, commercial development at Ogden Point, and management of the Ogden Point facility. In particular, 23.8% of JB residents, compared to 13% of other residents were dissatisfied with GVHA's management of cruise tourism.
Residents who indicated dissatisfaction with GVHA management of properties were asked to provide comments. Regarding Ogden Point, dissatisfied residents identified issues such as Service Quality (30%), Commercial Development (25%), Environment (18%), Transportation (15%), and Land Use (10%) concerns.
The JBNA grouping of JB resident comments reveals even more emphasis on environmental issues, including transportation issues, Environmental Issues(48%), Site Improvements (39%) and Other Concerns (14%). JB residents appear to be twice as concerned about the environmental impacts of GVHA operations, judging by the number and nature of comments related to improving the management of GVHA properties.
JB Residents & GVHA Clients
The Malatest report suggests that 53.65% of those in all groups (GVHA clients, member agencies, regulatory bodies, community groups and residents) "are supportive of GVHA's performances in fulfilling its mandate. Clients were significantly more supportive of GVHA performance than were other survey groups."
This conclusion is further discussed within the Malatest report as a weakness. This suggests that stakeholders and clients with a direct interest in the harbour's development have been the focus of attention while other stakeholders and the community have not been provided an appropriate role in the development and communication of future harbour initiatives.
This conclusion also complements JBNA cruise ship impact studies which identify business interests which gain from GVHA activities, while adjacent residents bear social and environmental costs associated with these activities.
On GVHA performance and achievement of its stated goals, the Malatest report found that "Maintaining the Victoria Harbour as a working harbour achieved the highest rating among the four goals identified, while acting in the best interests of the Victoria Harbour received the lowest rating." The past decade has seen a focus on benefits for those with business interests linked directly to GVHA operations. The challenge facing residents of James Bay is how to change the direction of an independent organization which now controls former public lands? How do residents obtain a voice? How can GVHA become a Victoria-First Advocate?