Peninsula News Review, April 06, 2012

Page 1

PENINSULA

NEWS

Established 1912

Ready to roadeo

Dancing ddreams

Brentwood Bay resident to travel for driving competition, Page A5

Performers of all ages will be on stage at the Charlie White, Page A13 Watch for breaking news at www.peninsulanewsreview.com

Friday, April 6, 2012

No MOU for Sandown Christine van Reeuwyk News staff

Arnold Lim/News staff

Friends of Shoal Harbour ecologist Kerry Finley sifts through the remnants of a fuel spill draining through the pipe at Roberts Bay.

Sidney spill cleanup started quickly Arnold Lim News staff

The smell of diesel caught him off guard. Walking along the beach at Roberts Bay, Kerry Finley was overwhelmed by the odour of fuel emanating from the pipe draining storm water into the the ocean - and his concern immediately turned to the safety of the wildlife sanctuary behind him. “[Oil] is seeping into, and probably has toxic effects on, the invertebrates

i

that are in the gravel,” the ecologist for the Friends of Shoal Harbour said. “[But] they have boomed it so most of the floating crud is on the surfaces and is being skimmed off.” Fortunately, the absorbent booms were already strewn in front of the pipe, catching some but not all of the fuel seeping through. While damage had been done, he was satisfied with the prompt action from the town. “The town did a very good job reacting quickly and preventing as much as they could,” Finley said. “The spill is relatively minor compared to what

refuse to let hearing loss slow me down.

it could have been, [however] it undoubtedly impacts the area.” The culprit was identified as a residential home-heating fuel tank that holds less than 1,000 litres and likely succumbed to corrosion. How much fuel seeped into the earth is unknown and depends on where the leak sprang. Despite prompt identification and action, fuel continues to leak into the sanctuary. PLEASE SEE: Leak damage difficult to assess, Page A9

Much like horse racing at Sandown, a proposal for a land swap to get it back into farm production has gone lame. Councillors Ted Daly, Craig Mearns, Conny McBride and Dunstan Browne opposed the memorandum critical to the proposal. It looked promising last week when North Saanich council agreed, during a committee meeting, to have staff draft a memorandum of understanding for the Agricultural Land Commission. The MOU was part of conditions for allowing the land swap portion of the Sandown proposal to exchange 12 acres of district land for 12 acres of ALR land near McDonald Park Road. The proposal was to have the district gain ownership of 83 of the 95 acres of the former horse race track, and the other 12 rezoned commercial Dunstan Browne for the present owner. During the April 2 council meeting, the motion failed. Mayor Alice Finall and councillors Elsie McMurphy and Celia Stock voted in favour, while councillors Ted Daly, Craig Mearns, Conny McBride and Dunstan Browne voted opposed. Follow up motions including to initiate community discussion on options for the 83 acre parcel, amending the zoning to allow for a public market, increase the floorspace in the commercial zone, and refer back to the ALC were tabled. Finall feels that the decision leaves the proposal with no alternatives. “I’m terribly disappointed and I’m sad for the community,” Finall said on Tuesday. “It’s not a decision that I see as in the interest of the community – at all.” PLEASE SEE: Council negates earlier decision, Page A4

If you’re not ready to let hearing loss get in the way of enjoying your favorite activities, Intiga offers two of the most innovative solutions on the market today. Choose the options that suit your lifestyle and enjoy ultra sleek design and exceptionally high performance. Book your consultation to find out if Intiga is right for you.

Special pricing for the month of April!

CALL: 778-426-4876 7159A West Saanich Road Brentwood Bay hearcentralsaanich.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Peninsula News Review, April 06, 2012 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu