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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 36
P: 250.585.1648 3392 Norwell Drive
Discussions turn to second-best options on dams
I
MAYOR SAid it is “physically unlikely” enough time remains to remove Colliery dams this year. By Tamara CunninGham THe NewS BULLeTiN
GREG SAKAKI/ThE NEwS BullETIN
Camp cool-off
Ten-year-olds Cameron Calverley, front, and Miles Stovell cool off with a dip in the water at the end of a Nanaimo Canoe and Kayak Club day camp at Long Lake on Tuesday afternoon. The club will continue to run the day camps all summer long for kids ages seven to 13, as well as sprint racing camps for youths 12-18. For more information, call the boathouse at 250-758-4052 or e-mail headcoach@nckc.ca.
Nanaimo man assaulted by group of teens at river By Tamara CunninGham THe NewS BULLeTiN
A 33-year-old man was swarmed and attacked by a group of youths after he tried to stop them from throwing bottles into Nanaimo River, according to Nanaimo RCMP. Police said a man and his fiancée were at a Nanaimo River Monday night when he saw four teenagers
tossing bottles into a swimming hole and told them to stop. When he returned to his vehicle an hour later, he was reportedly approached by a woman who swore at him and slapped him, police said. He pushed her away and was attacked by the three male teenagers he had confronted earlier. The woman allegedly used pepperspray during the assault.
Kim
Churchill live
The 33-year-old man was hospitalized with head injuries, but released later that night. Nanaimo RCMP arrested an 18-yearold woman, who is facing charges of assault and possession of a weapon. Three males aged 15, 16 and 17 were also taken into police custody on assault charges. The four will appear in court Nov. 3.
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The City of Nanaimo planned to rebuild the Colliery dams at much higher standards than the province requires, prompting some to ask if taxpayers should pay for the best when second-rate is good enough. Nanaimo city officials announced this week they will take another look at options for the Colliery dams as part of a 30-day consultation process with the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The work will include a review of original cost estimates, which were based on rebuilding the dams at a much higher standard than the province requires. The City of Nanaimo had decided to build new structures with enough strength that even in a major quake, they wouldn’t need repairs. But the B.C. Dam Safety Branch only asks that the dams don’t fail. Park advocates say they believe the original standards were ridiculous and too expensive for taxpayers at a total estimated cost of $11.2 million. They question whether people should be on the hook for eliminating all the risk for the dams when there are less-expensive measures that could be just as acceptable to the province. Advocates, like Jeff Solomon with the Colliery Dam Preservation Society, are pleased the city is now taking the time to review the decision. Mayor John Ruttan said the city is willing to look over its studies but he is not convinced a ‘second-class’ dam will give taxpayers the best value for their dollar and says the ongoing process to review and consult is making the dam demolition physically unlikely this summer. u See ‘LESS’ /4
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