Thank you, council, for passing the resolution that will allow Bowen Island landowners to consider placing NAPTEP covenants on their property if they wish to reduce their taxes to preserve special places on their lands.
NAPTEP is the Natural Areas Protection Tax Exemption Program, administered by the Islands Trust Fund, and has been used for many years by landowners on other islands in the Islands Trust area. I was a member of the Islands Trust Fund Board from 2008 to 2011. As such, one of our tasks was to consider applications from landowners for NAPTEP. Due to a wrinkle in the legislation, as a municipality, Bowen Island had to wait until the provincial legislation was amended in late 2011 to include an island municipality in the NAPTEP.
I understand there is a resolution before the Union of BC Municipalities that will allow other areas in the province to introduce a similar program. They have seen the benefits of this program in the Islands Trust area.
For those who wish more information about NAPTEP and how they may apply, go to islandstrustfund.bc.ca, or ask one of your Bowen Island Trustees.
This approval by our council provides another tool for islanders who wish to conserve places on their land that deserve special protection, while offering a tax reduction incentive. Mayor and council members, I thank you for this.
Nerys Poole
