TUESDAY DECEMBER 4, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
NEW KIND OF CANVAS
TWINS READY TO ROCK COOMBS
A9
B1
Competition starts to choose artist for old bus garage
Dynamic duo nominated for five B.C. Country Music Awards
QB WATER SUPPLY
Purchase ‘crucial’ Town buys land to secure future water JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
The Town of Qualicum Beach has purchased 75 acres of land it hopes will solidify its watersupply issues for years to come. The land, near the intersection of Rupert and Berwick roads off Memorial Avenue, was purchased for $1.495 million from Island Timberlands. The two parcels that are part of the purchase are adjacent to town land where the water tower and reservoir currently stand. “It’s been in our plans for years to acquire land in that area,” the town’s financial administrator John Marsh told The NEWS. “We had budgeted to buy this property. It wasn’t unexpected.” Bob Weir, the town’s director of engineering and utilities, said the purchase was important for the town due to the uncertainty surrounding the town’s only other current water supply below ground near the estuary of the Little Qualicum River. “We are very proud of how we have managed that water supply,” Weir said in an interview Monday. “But it is at such a low elevation we don’t know that we will always be able to maintain the capacity we are drawing from it now.” The news release issued by the town said the sale price was agreed “on a willing buyer/willing seller basis with the assistance of independent third-party appraisers.” Coun. Dave Willie said Monday “it’s crucial we have a long-term water supply for that area” and the land purchase was “something that’s been looked at for years.” The town’s news release also stated that “Island Timberlands recognized the importance of the property to the Town, and agreed to negotiate a transfer of ownership.”
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NEIL HORNER PHOTO
UMBRELLA PARADE: The rain won’t go away, but that doesn’t mean Tammy Cotton and her friends and family won’t go out to play. Above, Tammy ventures out into the deluge with sons Michael, Jason and daughter Jamie, along with friends Ricardo Marshall and Grace Malaquias.
REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO
Moving meetings to the people Director suggests the RDN needs to improve its reputation in rural areas NEIL HORNER news@pqbnews.com
Bill Veenhof would like to see at least some meetings of the Regional District of Nanaimo held in the rural areas, instead of at the main board office in Nanaimo. To this end, the RDN director for Bowser-Deep Bay presented his colleagues with a proposal in October to hold Electoral Area Planning Committee meetings in each rural area once annually. “I sponsored this issue and my objects were three-fold,” Veenhof said. “I wanted to improve the reputation of the
RDN in the areas and give fellow directors a look at the realities of specific rural areas. It would also give local residents access to the board. The goal is to get the RDN out of the board room and in front of the people.” Planner Jeremy Holm presented staff ’s response to the request last week, suggesting the move would cost approximately $1,460 per meeting, for a total of $8,760 per year. As well, he said it could well prove disruptive to the flow of development applications, resulting in unnecessary delays.
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