Jiu-jitsu jogger Robbery victim has a surprise in store for assailant. Page 10 Science Matters Wind power opponents blowing a lot of hot air. Page B1 Peak players Volleyball club bound for provincial championships. Page 7
Ride the Cyclone Page 17
WE
BUY
GOLD AND FINE JEWELLERY Y
www.nanaimobulletin.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013
VOL. 24, NO. 150
P: 250.585.1648 3392 Norwell Drive
Environment review, economy cited for marina deal failure I PorT AuTHorITy will continue to operate Boat Basin, waterfront. By ChRiS haMlyn THe NewS BULLeTIN
Toby Gorman/The News BulleTiN
Deborah Beck, recreation coordinator for the city, gets an early start on controlling invasive plant species at Beban Park Tuesday. Scotch broom, giant hogweed, and Himalayan blackberries are just some of the invasive species being targeted in May during Invasive Plant Awareness Month. The city has organized plant removal sessions and drop zones throughout the month to encourage public participation.
City leading attack on invasive plants By ToBy goRMan THe NewS BULLeTIN
There are aliens living among us, and the city’s parks and recreation department has a plan to get rid of them. English ivy, daphne, Himalayan blackberry, giant hogweed and the ubiquitous Scotch broom are just a few of the invasive species being targeted during May, designated as Invasive Plant Awareness Month in Nanaimo. To help reduce the spread of these invaders, no matter how
pretty they appear, city staff have developed a number of invasive species removal events throughout the month to encourage residents to participate in removing the plants from roadsides, parks and other areas where they are choking out native vegetation. “The biggest thing is these plants are affecting the natural ecosystem by dominating the plants that would naturally grow here,” said Deborah Beck, recreation coordinator for the city. “The Himalayan blackberry takes over from
Quality & Service at Budget Prices Wisecrack Of The Week
I don’t think, therefore I am not
native blackberries, which generate berries in the spring and allow birds to feed on them. “Himalayans produce fruit in the fall, which is great for us but not so much for the birds that really need it in the spring.” According to the city’s invasive plant reduction strategy, the uncontrolled spread of these invaders is becoming a major concern for ecologists, naturalists, residents and land managers across B.C. u See ‘INVASIVE’ /4
It’s business as usual at the Nanaimo Boast Basin despite the fact the Pacific Northwest Marina Group has pulled out of a proposed 30-year lease and $9-million investment in the marina. A memorandum of agreement signed between the Nanaimo Port Authority and Pacific Northwest in May 2012 expired April 1, and the marina group will not be taking on the revitalization and long-term lease of the Nanaimo marina. Bernie Dumas, CEO of the Nanaimo Port Authority, said the economic climate and changes to federal environmental impact reviews played a part in the demise of the deal. “Their position was the change in the overall economy – in the sense that there were other investment opportunities available to them that would have a quicker return on their investment – and the length of time needed to do the environmental review was a contributing factor in their decision not to renew the MOA,” he said. “Without the MOA, the port is unable to go forward.” Changes to the rules surround-
? w o n k u o Y Do lass
g r u o h 4 2 e d i We prov s s e n i s u b r u o service for y
3900 ISLAND HWY. N.
| 250.758.3374
ing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency reviews made the port authority responsible for looking at what impact the boat basin project would have on the environment. Dumas said some of the delays on the environmental review were due to the port’s sensitivity to concerns of residents and marina stakeholders. “We were working through them and trying to find solutions which caused the need for more time,” he said. “The Pacific Northwest Marina Group wasn’t really interested in wasting any more time and we couldn’t get them to extend the MOA.” The proposal created a storm of controversy with local residents and marina stakeholders, such as commercial fishermen and Protection Island residents, but Dumas couldn’t say if that played a part in the failure of the deal or if future investors might be scared off from investing in Nanaimo. “That’s a question to be directed to Pacific Northwest,” he said. “I can say we are one big community and there’s been some disappointments collectively here. As a port authority, we are just going forward.” Dumas says the port authority still believes the redevelopment would have had a good result for the basin and Nanaimo, but the situation now is simply status quo. u See ‘BUSINESS’ /5
No need to go to ICBC, come directly to us!
| www.budgetglass.com