Chilly dip Brave folks take cold plunge into Departure Bay for annual swim. PAGE 7 Recovery road A phone call puts one woman on the path to sobriety. PAGE 13 People page Nanaimo groups share donations with charities in need. PAGE 3
Christmas column PAGE 20
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2012
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VOL. 24, NO. 101
NANAIMO
Liability issues a challenge to land purchase
I
POTENTIAL TRESTLE repairs, rights of way might limit potential. BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
The city’s intended purchase of 10.8 hectares of land and water at the Wellcox Railyard from Canadian Pacific will result in several challenges, say city officials, the most notable of which is assuming liability over the aging trestle that serves as the current access point. Last week, the city announced it entered into a purchase agreement with CP to buy the property at 7 Port Drive for $3.4 million with the intention of building a transit hub that could one day connect buses, rail and even a passenger ferry to downtown Vancouver. But along with potential trestle repairs and environmental concerns – the site is built on coal slag – the majority of the property is encumbered with perpetual rights of way which will limit development potential of the property. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan said he admits that the city has a tiger by the tail by entering the purchase agreement, but thinks the payoff will benefit taxpayers long-term. “For a number of years we’ve
been trying to make a transportation hub... and it’s something we see as a great opportunity,” he said. The Re gional District of Nanaimo partnered with the city on the purchase, agreeing to pay $2 million for a portion of the land that will house the transit hub. The city has not yet created a plan to develop the remaining part of the property. “The motivation on our part isn’t land development but to try to relocate the bus transfer system,” said Ruttan. Snuneymuxw Chief Douglas White III said his council looked into the property several years ago and considered the property more trouble than it is worth. “The environmental liability is one thing, and it in itself is a serious concern,” said White. “But I can say that property is easily the most complicated piece of land I’ve ever come across with the encumbrances, right of ways, leases and other issues. Our assessment is that it would be excessively expensive and costly.” He added that he expects city officials to include Snuneymuxw in future planning discussions. While still in early planning stages, condition of the trestle that connects the property to Esplanade remains a concern and is likely to come with a hefty price tag to repair if required. ◆ See ‘ACQUISITION’ /7
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
A paramedic and firefighter study the aftermath of a collision between a transport truck and a Hyundai car at the Nanaimo Parkway and Fifth Street intersection Thursday afternoon. The driver of the Hyundai was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital with head injuries.
Parkway crash sends one driver to hospital BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
A Nanaimo woman was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital Thursday after her car collided with a transport truck. The accident happened shortly before 3 p.m. when the 25-yearold woman drove her Hyundai Tiburon eastbound from College Drive across the Nanaimo Parkway intersection toward Fifth Street and collided with a nine-tonne Mack transport truck carrying a load of live seafood, police said. The woman’s car appeared to have been hit on the passenger
side and sustained heavy damage. The impact carried both vehicles about 25 metres north of the intersection and came to a halt with the car facing northbound in the passing lane and the truck straddling the concrete median barriers. The woman was rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and then airlifted to Victoria General Hospital. “She’s got significant head injuries,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “She was medevacced to Victoria. The family has been advised.”
No injuries were reported to have been sustained by the male driver of the transport truck. No other vehicles were involved. Police closed north and southbound lanes of the Parkway for about 30 minutes until emergency vehicles could clear the scene. The southbound lanes remained closed and Parkway traffic was rerouted through town until about 5:30 p.m. Police are still trying to determine who had the right of way at the intersection and the factors that led to the accident are still under investigation. photos@nanaimobulletin.com
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