2293days since
The infamous planning 'charrette' on Echo Heights Forest by North Cowichan which brought the community together into the CRA

Community Bulletin Board

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Hot Tips
From E.J. - Those old creasote ties along the E&N should be disposed of properly. There is a big pile just above Askew Creek.
From Mary - People are already starting to dump their yard waste in ditches and along the railway line. This just spreads invasive species. We have free yard waste dumping at Peerless Road. Use it!
From Rodney - The old MacMillan haul road is getting to be a pig sty. Why do people throw their garbage there? It pollutes Mill Creek and looks ugly.
From T.R.J. - Askew Park is called a "wilderness park". Why doesn't someone (the muni, CRA, Communities in Bloom) take care of the invasive plants like the daphne, blackberry, holly, ivy and other stuff?
From F.R. - I see the Victoria Police are cracking down on loud motorcycles and cars. Can North Cowichan RCMP start doing the same thing? Chemainus and Victoria Roads need policing for noise and speed.
From Don - Communities in Bloom do hard work at the roundabout, but why plant all those annuals and exotics that need watering. We have some great native plants in our yard that are beautiful, perennial and NEVER need watering.

The Mayor's Answers

On April 6, Mayor Tom Walker of the District of North Cowichan answered a dozen questions put forward by CRA members at our annual meeting. The questions are in blue and the mayor's answers in black.

1. Why did the Mayor and Council say they wouldn't develop the municipal land around Mill Creek?
The decision of Council was to not develop this land "at this time." There are a number of factors that Council took into consideration:
    1. the property is not within our sewer area;
    2. a portion is within the Agricultural Land Reserve;
    3. it is not part of the Official Community Plan growth centre;
    4. it contains a creek and a significant riparian area;
    5. there is an old municipal dump located on this land which would require remediation;
    6. the site is currently used by our Public Works department for the deposit and storage of various materials; and
    7. it is zoned A2 Rural.

2. Upon being elected, you stated you would revisit the Echo Heights issue. Do you still intend to do so?
We are still dealing with Echo Heights. No specific decision has yet been made, other than to move the proposal forward for further public consideration.

3. Aside from the provincial position, why does Council oppose sovereignty for Chemainus?
The Municipality has invited Mr. Balabanov to submit a proposal to North Cowichan for consideration. We have simply told him that any process will need to be public, open and transparent.

4. Does Council think Chemainiacs think it's OK to get clean water at the Halalt Band's expense?
This is a highly-charged issue. The Municipality is in possession of a certificate issued by the Province of British Columbia which essentially states that the aquifer is sufficient to supply domestic water to Chemainus without negatively impacting Halalt's supply, or the many other wells that are located in this aquifer. Halalt has challenged this particular certificate and that challenge is currently before the courts. The courts will determine whether the process that was followed by the province provided sufficient accommodation and consultation; and further, whether the Environmental Assessment Certificate should be set aside.

5. Would you be willing to have a binding referendum on the matter of Echo Heights?
No.

6. Can citizens borrow money from the same source as the municipality (MFA) does to buy Echo Heights?
No.

7. Is the municipality serious about its duty and honour to be good stewards of its resources?
Yes.

8. Why does Council want to get rid of Echo Heights?
Echo Heights has been zoned as residential land since 1979. It has continuously been identified as potential land for residential development in all of the Municipality's Official Community Plans. It is currently part of the growth centre. The Municipality spent some $350,000 of taxpayers' money in Chemainus to bring water over land through Mr. Plester's land lying to the south. This extension provided an upper pressure zone that would serve not only the Echo Heights' lands, but also lands in northwest Chemainus identified in the OCP as part of the growth area. The proposal that will go forward for public consideration as a comprehensive development plan includes setting aside 60% of the current land base to be retained in its natural state with the balance to be developed into residential housing.

Echo Heights is an asset of the residents of the Municipality of North Cowichan and as such, any sale of land from that property will be contributed to the Property Tax Reserve Fund. The Property Tax Reserve Fund has been used to finance several significant projects in the Municipality, including portions of the Chemainus tri-service safety building and the new Maple Bay fire hall. It was also used to fully finance the expansion projects at Crofton and South End fire halls, the RCMP building renovations in North Cowichan/Duncan, the renovations to the North Cowichan Municipal Hall, the renovations to the Public Works' buildings and several other capital projects. Financing projects using the Property Tax Reserve Fund saves money through reduced tax levies.

9. What would be your vote on selling the Old Fire Hall?
There are so many factors to consider in directly answering this question. Firstly, the sale of any land or buildings requires the funds be transferred to the Property Tax Reserve Fund. Expenditures out of that reserve fund are authorized by Council and as mentioned above, can be used for a number of capital projects. For example, if a recreational facility was built in the Chemainus community, proceeds from the sale, together with proceeds from the sale of any other lands, can be used to help offset the financial burden of building a new recreation centre. While the Property Tax Reserve Fund could not finance the complete cost of such a facility, it could contribute.

Council is committed to meeting with the residents of Chemainus sometime this year and is determined through that process to find out the wish/demand for a recreation centre. If the desire is there, where would such a facility be built? We know the old fire hall site is currently owned by the Municipality and may be a suitable site; however, there may be other sites that are of interest to the community.

10. How important do you regard it for our health to sell a Coastal Douglas Fir forest?
The Municipality has approximately 12,000 acres of Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR) lands which are managed for integrated and multiple uses and in response to question 10, with over 12,000 acres of North Cowichan in MFR, we believe significant portions are managed for environmental stewardship.

11. Does the municipality have a legal or ethical obligation to consult with the First Nations before selling Echo Heights?
No.

12. Would you be willing to have your responses to these questions published in the Courier?
No.