SOOKE
NEWS MIRROR
2010 WINNER
ROCKIN’ BLUES
GIVING IT YOUR ALL Editorial
Dinner concert at the Legion with CURL. Page 21
Page 8
Entertainment
Page 19
Your guide to martial arts in Sooke, Part 1.
Sports/stats
Page 28
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Agreement #40110541
Wednesday, MARCH 13, 2013
Your community, your classifieds P25 • 75¢
Public will have say on Bike Skills Park Pirjo Raits Sooke News Mirror
Pirjo Raits photos
Hanging 10! Surfers brave the cold waters to enjoy their sport. These surfers were riding the waves at China Beach this past Sunday.
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At the District of Sooke council meeting on Monday, Mar. 11, council discussed the proposed Bile Skills Park. Two recommendations came before council, one being to conduct a public consultation process and the other to direct staff to continue to work with the bike club to obtain grant funding. Council had previously allocated $3,600 for funds to engage Alpine Bike Parks to draw up plans for the park. The site for the bike park would be in John Phillips Memorial Park, encompassing1.8 hectares. The idea was to have the Sooke Bike Club design, build and maintain the park. The club would also be responsible for costs associated with improvements, such a fencing, signage, bike/equipment storage and washroom facilities. During the public question portion of the meeting, most of the residents who came up to the microphone were in favour of a bike skills park. Most
6572 CALLUMWOOD LANE SOOKE CORE $424,900
stated the importance of youth-oriented activity in the centre of Sooke. Sooke resident Ellen Lewers suggested council err on the side of caution and to ensure their priorities were in order. Gail Hall said a couple of things troubled her. She said council was going from approving something in principle to wording that states they are entering into a partnering agreement with the bike club. “You’re going to run into a brick wall on that one,” she said. “I’m not interested in my taxes going into a special interest group. If you do an agreement, you will do a referendum.” Two residents stated they were in favour of a bike park, but not in that particular location, as it was the last green space in the centre of Sooke. “There will be a fullblown public hearing,” said Mayor Wendal Milne. The second part of the recommendation was to direct staff to work with the Bike Club to obtain grant
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