Wilkinson facelift
NEWS: Extinct but not forgotten at Fossil Fair /A5 Fed chip in cash to upgrade ARTS: Jewish arts fest kicks off 150th festivities /A14 busy Saanich corridor. Page A3 SPORTS: Star curlers hit Victoria Classic /A18
SAANICHNEWS Wednesday March 20, 2013
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Saanich moves to lock in Panama Flats as farmland Kyle Slavin News staff
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Keeping an eye on fungi Nate Poetker checks on oyster mushrooms growing in a greenhouse at Haliburton Farm in Cordova Bay. The farm will host an open house March 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to give people a chance to see the operation and chat with farmers. See haliburtonfarm.org.
Roadwork deferred due to bridge cost Craigflower rebuild bid comes in over budget Kyle Slavin News staff
A plan to rebuild Cook Street, between Quadra Street and Maplewood Road, will be put on hold after build costs for the new Craigflower Bridge jumped by $2.2 million. Saanich and View Royal, which share ownership of the bridge, are each on the hook to N FR O
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find $1.1 million more than they originally budgeted for. “The tenders came in over budget because of the pilings and what (the contractor feels) is beneath the surface,” said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard. “On the other hand, Saanich taxpayers should still be pleased we’ve got a $13.2-million bridge that’s being funded $11.05 million from other sources, which is incredible.” Saanich is finding its portion by delaying the Cook Street upgrade a year, and using the money previously budgeted there. N O PUESE
AG E ACR E
1110 Newton Pl BRENTWOOD BAY $809,000
495 Goward Road BEAVER LAKE $665,000
H O . 2-4 Sat
10715 Bayfield Rd SIDNEY $1,599,900
Both municipalities last week awarded the bridge contract to Don Mann Construction Ltd. for $15,896,000. The contract also includes major roadwork on either side of the bridge. The 80-year-old, timber-beam Craigflower Bridge is slated to be replaced by a three-lane steel bridge. Construction will begin in April and is expected to last six months. When complete, the Cook Street upgrade, called a “complete street project,” will see the road become more pedestrian and bike friendly. kslavin@saanichnews.com
250.744.3301 | www.roxannebrass.com | remaxroxanne@shaw.ca
The first of many formal discussions on the future of Panama Flats was held Monday night, as Saanich council looks at increasing its footprint in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Currently 21 acres of the 66-acre site is protected, but Saanich staff sought council approval to add up to another 35 acres to the ALR. “The reason for buying it was floodplain (for the Colquitz River) and agricultural land,” said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard before the meeting, held after the News’ press deadline. “It wasn’t to create a soccer field – not that anyone’s suggesting it. I want to make sure it’s not an option, though. There’s activities that might be nice to have, but I wouldn’t want to be tempted to stray from the principles of our floodplain and agricultural land that are established.” Saanich’s planning supervisor Neil Findlow advised that putting new land in the ALR, before a plan for Panama Flats is established, could potentially prove problematic. “Once the land is included into the Agricultural Land Reserve, land use is restricted, and amendments to Agricultural Land Reserve boundaries can be both difficult and time consuming,” he wrote. PLEASE SEE: Mayor envisions trails, Page A7