Up front: Johel confident healthy firm will emerge from protection page 3 page 25 On stage: New Vagabonds Earnest about community theatre
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Cobble Hill water safe, officials assure residents Thurber report: Area nitrate levels cause concern, but people’s well water clear Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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outh Cowichanians were assured their water is safe to drink, despite Thursday’s release of area well-testing figures showing nitrates above safe levels. “There are no elevated nitrates in wells people are using,” CVRD engineering manager Brian Dennison said in the wake of a Thurber Engineering report on the Cherry Point Aquifer. Data issued April 30 about “Aquifer 197” was shared with some 200 residents in Cobble Hill Hall, during what was perhaps the valley’s largest-ever meeting about water-quality. By night’s end, folks were advised to have their wells tested annually for pollutants, and work through area directors to share information with the Fisher Road Advisory Committee and regional staff. Residents also heard more study, and two more wells — pushing Cowichan taxpayers’ bills to about $70,000 — are needed to Gerry Giles: nail nitrate sources from chemical moving on issue fertilizers, animal manure, plus septic and sewage discharges. “You should know what you’re drinking,” said Dr. Paul Hasselback of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. “I don’t think anyone’s at risk right now.” Cobble Hill Director Gerry Giles and other officials were non-committal about seeking stricter CVRD enforcement and regulation to keep nitrate sources out of the aquifer area. And no project leader has emerged among Cowichan Valley Regional District directors, VIHA agents, and provincial agents involved. Still, calm was urged by Pat Lapcevic, of the forest ministry’s water-protection branch. “I don’t believe your water supply is in imminent danger. What we’re measuring today is likely decades old.” Officials explained nitrate pollution may have started in local composting operations, but recent studies haven’t pinpointed sources in the northwest-flowing groundwater. more on page 5
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Andrew Leong
Dallan Mills, 4 and his brother Jackson, 7, match a sea critter to the critter chart during the International Low Tide Day at Kil-pah-las Beach in Cowichan Bay on Saturday.
Deal touts potential mine north of Mount Sicker Lindsay Chung
News Leader Pictorial
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working mine near the Chemainus River Valley? It could be closer than you might think. Last month, Nanaimobased RCR Mining signed a deal with the Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation’s development arm, the Coast Salish Development Corporation. They aim to partner in the development of a 2,400-hectare property known as the Sognidoro property. The Sognidoro property is a massive sulphide outcropping running along the same geological event as the old Mt. Sicker mines
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some 30 kilometres to the south, according to RCR Mining’s website. The project is in the pre-exploration phase, but initial survey results and other data reveal there could be approximately 10,000,000 tonnes of copper, zinc and other ore deposits in the area, according to the CSDC’s website. “We’re hoping to develop this mine over the next five to six years,” RCR Mining operations manager Don Hubbard said before signing the MOU with Stz’uminus Chief John Elliott. “We are very pleased to be partnering with the Stz’uminus First Nation at the onset so that they can be part of the economic development and the benefits that we see coming from this operation.”
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Cowichan Valley Regional District Chairman Rob Hutchins is excited about the opportunity. “(This) is potentially going to bring tremendous wealth to this community, tapping into the silver and gold of the old mine at Mt. Sicker,” he said. “We will see this pay dividends, not only in the near future but for decades to come.” Elliott described the signing as “an opportunity to build a partnership early in discussions.” ALL-NEW “We have community behind us and weLOW PAYME have a leadership that has the same motivation as I do that’s looking at creating economic development and opportunity for our people for the future,” he said. “We’re moving fast, and it’s exciting.” OWN
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