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Friday, October 18, 2013
Push for new park continues to Echo in Chemainus
In the Heights: Council to seek more feedback as 20% development proposal remains on the table Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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ocal Chemainiacs demanded all of publicly owned Echo Heights forest be preserved as parkland Wednesday, while council remained split on that idea. After heated debate, council voted to send a planning department report — based on saving 80% of Echo Heights as park — to three committees for debate and recommendations to council. A public meeting would follow those committee reports. The other 20% is targeted for 54 residential lots, on 4.2 hectares, for phased sale to developers, given market conditions. Those sales could reap an Kate Marsh: Andrew Leong estimated $3 million to fund make it all park Volunteer foot washer Truda Visman cleans the foot of Clara Jack during Homelessness Action Week’s Day of Service at the Duncan United Church on Wednesday, hosted by council’s various other projects. Social Planning Cowichan. Mayor Jon Lefebure later noted no final decision has been made about how much of Echo Heights to save. He voiced concerns the 20% area, basically ground already cleared for development, could impact the forest, marsh, and meadowlands. Those ecosystems are described as rare, and bamboo-cotton Silk’n Soft saves thousands Invested: Local gets $200,000 from precious by the Chemainus Residents Association of trees. Their toilet tissue also costs about members, plus various scientists, and First Nations the same as tissue made from wood fibre. two Dragons’ Den investors Their company sells about $320,000 worth folks. Lefebure suggested a phone poll of residents of the bathroom product annually, they to help gauge their appetite for saving all of noted. Peter W. Rusland Eco-minded Treliving — owner of Boston 22.12-hectare Echo Heights. News Leader Pictorial “A high percentage of our residents are in favour Pizza — and venture capitalist Dickinson of that. It might help give guidance to council,” he learned Silk’n Soft is BPA-free, and KorCowichanian and his busisaid, citing an earlier phone survey about North nelson and Legh have an exclusive deal to ness partner rolled out of the Cowichan’s climate-action tax. distribute their tissue. Dragons’ Den Wednesday with Aware of CRA demands, the mayor and CouncilSnarly dragon Kevin O’Leary was ina $200,000 investment in their lor Kate Marsh later voted against sending the terested in the privy product, but wanted bamboo Silk’n Soft toilet-paper CBC payment in dividends. 80/20 plan to the Chemainus advisory, community business. Arlene Dickinson was one of two Dragons’ Den-izens Kornelson and Legh also grabbed dragons’ planning, and climate-change advisory committees. Shawnigan Lake’s Brad Kornelson — the impressed enough with bamboo toilet paper from Van- attention with their bamboo meat-trays — “I’d like to see us save all of it,” Marsh said. “We lake’s former fire chief — and Victoria lawcouver Island to invest some money. to replace oil-based Styrofoam ones — plus already own this land. I can’t see how saving a yer James Legh convinced CBC-TV’s milforest would be the wrong thing to do, in terms of bamboo paper-towels. Kornelson said the lionaire dragons Jim Treliving and Arlene the toilet tissue arm of the company during climate (action).” investment will help his entire True Earth Dickinson to invest in their firm. Wednesday’s airing of the popular show. more on page 4 Paper corporation. In return, the dragons got a 35% stake in The partners told the dragons three-ply,
Dragons swoop down on bamboo toilet paper offer
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