Thursday May 31, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 44)
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W H I T E
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Homeward downed: After playing most of the baseball season on the road, White Rock Tritons returned to home field last week but didn’t get the results they were hoping for. see page A41
S U R R E Y
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Hotel/convention centre eyed for 8 Avenue and 168 Street
Newton casino in talks to move south Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Plans are afoot to move the Newton casino to a property in South Surrey, where it would be turned into a destination gaming complex, Black Press has learned. The City of Surrey, Gateway Casinos and the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) have been in private discussions about moving the gaming licence from the Newton Bingo Country casino at 7093 King George Blvd. to
a yet-to-be-built facility in South Surrey, at 8 Avenue and 168 Street. The Newton property was the subject of a highly contentious public hearing in 2009, when gaming critics were pitted against notfor-profit organizations, which rely heavily on gaming revenues. After a marathon meeting, council passed the gaming expansion in Newton on a 5-4 vote, even though it contravened the city’s own gaming policy.
Making matters worse, the company that won the rezoning later flipped the property to Gateway Casinos and Entertainment and the promise of $25 million worth of improvements on the property died with the change in ownership. Three years later, the mall where the Newton casino is situated still lies in a state of disrepair. Meanwhile, the South Surrey location – currently undeveloped green space – is the
planned site for a $180-million development, including a 200-suite hotel, 800-seat convention centre and casino. The vast majority of people at a recent public hearing were in favour of the South Surrey development plan. Mayor Dianne Watts confirmed Tuesday that the city, BCLC and Gateway were in early discussions to move the gaming licence from Newton to the border location. see page A4
Police expenses
Coal-train protest cost city $18,000 Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Tracy Holmes photo
The demolition of two derelict houses that attracted vermin and scavengers to Stevens Street gets a thumbs-up from neighbour Geoff Giffin.
Derelict homes torn down by owners, city
Neighbours mollified by demolition Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Two derelict houses on White Rock’s Stevens Street that have been the subject of numerous complaints since 1998 have been demolished. The city issued a news release Tuesday announcing last week’s turn of events. City manager Dan Bottrill told Peace Arch News that he received confirmation the buildings were gone Wednesday, May 23 at 2 p.m. “By Thursday morning, most of the debris from the homes were also removed,” he said. The homes – at 1029 and 1037 Stevens St.
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– had been the source of much grief for area residents, particularly in recent years. Geoff Giffin and Senga Fullam had appealed to White Rock council early last month to deal with the site – which had become a health and fire hazard – after years of “quietly” waiting produced little results. The couple live immediately north of the site and had watched helplessly as the buildings and property became increasingly unsightly, drawing vermin and an increasing number of scavengers. Fines levied by the city against the out-of-
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country property owners since 2010 did little to persuade them to take action. Giffin said this week that the bulk of the problem that’s plagued the neighbourhood was dealt with in about two hours. The entire process was monitored throughout by city staff and was finished by Friday afternoon. The effort did not go unnoticed. “A lot of people came by afterward and said, ‘wow, they’re gone’,” said Giffin, thrilled a resolution has finally been reached. see page A4
A coal train protest on White Rock beach May 5 cost the city $18,000. A news release issued Tuesday states the funds cover overtime police salaries and related expenses. City manager Dan Bottrill noted the amount is 90 per cent of the actual costs, as per the city’s contract with the RCMP. “We received that estimate from our RCMP detachment stating that this is basically our share,” Bottrill told Peace Arch News, estimating “at least” 15 officers were dispatched to assist with the protest, which was staged by members of the group British Columbians for Climate Action, to block U.S. coal trains from travelling to the bulkcoal terminal at Roberts Bank. Of the 40 or so people who turned out for the “peaceful civil disobedience,” 13 were arrested without incident and each fined $115. Bottrill said the tab was disclosed to the city during a closed meeting of council. The decision to release it to the public was made Monday. Mayor Wayne Baldwin commended police handling of the event, but described the additional policing bill as “painful.” The city does not receive the fine revenue and is not responsible for the cost of CN officers that assisted.
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