Peninsula News Review, March 07, 2014

Page 1

PENINSULA Celebrating 40 years

Peninsula takes early lead

Parkland Secondary alumni plan for a big school reunion, anniversary party, page 5 Black Press C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

M E D I A

NEWS REVIEW

Sean Buchanan scored in the Panthers’ first win in round two of the payoffs, page 17 Watch for breaking news at www.vicnews.com

Friday, March 7, 2014

Seaport East deal ends over testing Contamination discovered by developer forces Town to stop the proposed residential project on Sidney’s waterfront Steven Heywood

hydrocarbons in the soil. He said those are not considered hazardous waste, but do exceed contamiCiting the recent discovery of nated site regulations for commercontaminated soil and ground- cial and residential land uses. Councillor Steve Price told the water on the waterfront property subject to a proposed land deal, News Review Wednesday that the Town of Sidney has put a stop council has been told the contamito further negotiations with a nation could date back to when the site was used by the marine or fordeveloper. It was the development com- est industry close to 100 years ago. Another source, he pany itself — Sidadded might be the ney Waterfront Part“Rule number fill used on the site nership (SWP) — about 30 years ago. whose environmen- one now is how do “This council has tal consulting firm we protect the Town’s now been saddled (SLR Consulting) with what to do found the contami- residents from any now,” Price said. nation after drilling potential liability?” “It’s just not a good test holes through– Steve Price idea to put any resiout the Seaport East dential (developlands approximately two weeks ago. The Town, stated ment) on contaminated soil.” He noted that the contaminaMayor Larry Cross, was notified of those findings late last week. The tion does not seem to be leaching call to halt the project as a result from the area. He said the Capital was made public late Tuesday, Regional District has done environmental monitoring along SidMarch 4. “We are concerned with a vari- ney’s waterfront without seeing ety of issues and the potential lia- anything. “It’s there, it’s capped,” Price bility of the Town,” said Cross in a phone call to the News Review. said, adding the Town will have to “We will do an investigation on explore its options, from leaving it what we can even do there in the as-is to cleaning it up. future.” The testing, Cross stated in a PlEaSE SEE: media release, found metals and Town scouring files, page 3

News staff

Steven Heywood/News staff

Cydney Hellier of CHG Design and Paula Grypma of Outlooks Design share a laugh during the Peninsula News Review’s Women in Business social at the Mary Winspear Centre Tuesday evening. The event marks the publication of the News Review’s annual Women in Business special section this week.

North Saanich nulls tax rate VERSION 2 HORIZONTAL

GOTHAM LIGHT Horizontal

Zero tax rate hike this year won’t impact District priorities Steven Heywood News staff

North Saanich council this week brought in their second no-tax-rate-increase budget in three years. By dropping or defering some budget items from their 2014 financial plan, council was able to take an initial porposed tax increase of around 1.2 per cent and cut it to nil. Councillor Ted Daly, who chaired Tuesday morn-

ing’s budget session in the absence of Mayor Alice Finall, says by taking some of the options offered by municipal staff, they were able to get the number down to zero. While local taxpayers still pay a 1.71 base residential tax rate, he said there is no increase this year. It’s North Saanich’s second such budget in three years — there was no tax increase in 2012. In 2013, the rate hike was only 1.62 per cent. PlEaSE SEE: Council not sticking necks out, page 4

SPRING EYEWEAR FASHION FAIR ONE DAY ONLY, TUESDAY MARCH 11TH

100 CASH BACK

$

on featured fashion frames with fully coated prescription lenses.

IN-STORE SCRATCH OFFER Receive up to $50 towards featured lenses. See store for details.

2423 Beacon Avenue | 250.656.1413 | Dr. Netty Sutjahjo, Optometrist ®TM

Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and IRIS The Visual Group.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.