A unique houseboat is raising some eyebrows in Surrey.
A camper trailer, sitting on top of a makeshift barge of 36 round containers and some steel beams, is currently moored on the Nicomekl River by Surrey’s Portage Park.
Nearby residents told Global News that they witnessed the floating home get assembled and then launched into the water using a crane.
No one inside the home answered Global News’ calls from the shore to speak with them.
Other residents expressed concerns about fish spawning in the river as what appear to be oil slicks have been observed.
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There are also questions about how secure the float home is, as it’s tied up to a rotting stump.
The City of Surrey said it had issued warnings to the owner of the vessel earlier this month. It did issue one parking ticket when it was located on city land. The ticket was still visible on the side of the trailer on Sunday.
In a statement, the city said it will be engaging partner agencies such as Transport Canada to ensure the matter is properly resolved.
It said it will not permit derelict or abandoned vessels on the Nicomekl River.
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In a statement on Monday, Transport Canada said it recently became aware of the vessel on the Nicomekl River and officials will follow up with the vessel owner and “may conduct further inspections or compliance verification activities, as appropriate, to determine whether the vessel complies with applicable marine safety and environmental requirements.
“A vessel must be capable of navigation to be considered a vessel under the Canada Shipping Act, and it does not necessarily need a motor to comply with Transport Canada’s regulations (e.g. barge, kayak, canoe). Transport Canada would need to inspect the vessel to better understand specific requirements.”
The organization said people may construct vessels for their personal use, but those must still comply with all applicable requirements under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and its regulations, including applicable safety and environmental requirements.
This “Houseboat” needs to be Removed at Owners Exspense. Timeline or Fine. There are Fish and Natural Creatures in these waters, that need to survive.
I also wonder where the sewage goes? And there garbage? The article mentions oil seen in the water. It isn’t about taking away someone’s home but pollution and raw sewage going into the water.
Wonder where your going to empty your septic tanks probably in the river there goes the fish and here comes the diseases.
Why is government always standing in the way of people trying to better themselves, this brilliant idea for everyday living is not hurting anyone. Hell of a lot better that squatting on the side of the road, at least this will keep him relatively a lot safer
This is apparently what Canadians at large wanted. You allow illegal immigrants into the country, you drive housing and food costs through the roof, you make earning a living extra hard. Liberal government made all of this our reality. Now you’re complaining about it? This is apparently what Canada wanted. Until it’s in your backyard. Let them live where they want. Give them a break. I’m pretty sure they’d rather have their own place on dry ground but guess what? It costs a minimum 500k to buy a crapbox home and rent is stupid expensive. We are now a developing (3rd world) nation. Accept it. Or do something about it. Stop whining
I think people need to stop taking people’s houses away from them . The city and the rich created the housing crisis in Canada. Personally I see this as a solution. Let people own a home and a home doesn’t always need to be 2 million dollars. We need to start building tiny homes and every city needs to make it a bylaw that in Canada every city must have a section for tiny homes. Every person deserves a roof over their heads.
Isn’t it funny how these white power losers on the internet keep talking all this racist buIIshit about First Nations people being “conquered” yet the First Nations people are still thriving. If they were conquered then they wouldn’t still be here. Not only that but First Nations culture is thriving and is currently the main issue in BC politics right now. Have fun crossing the Stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge because it’s not going anywhere lol
ProbablyTrudeaujinders. Got it stuffed full of relatives.
Jay Voorhees
“It’s a chug. He’s using it for a meth lab.”
Thanks for bringing us up to date, Jay.
The media always leaves these details out.
I smell a **** disturber bent on underscoring the jusidictional void that exists where municipal provincial and federal jurisdiction intersect.
This will take years. Untether it from the stump its currently attached to and use an anchor to keep it in place instead and it will take decades.
It will take 8 years to remove it.
It’s a chug. He’s using it for a meth lab.
Big deal! This will be the NORM in five years
Who cares, fugging nimby cumsluts
Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess. Only in Surrey
Definitely a white guy that smells like he hasn’t showered in a year
if they went to that much trouble to assemble it. Let it be. It does not sound abandoned
The government has made so impossible to afford a home, this is what some are resorting to.
It said it will not permit derelict or abandoned……..?
This way of thinking should be used on the rez or the encampments