environmental design Neighbourhood deals with social problems. Page 7 Soccer fever Vancouver Whitecaps host player clinics in Nanaimo. Page 19 Poetry passion Patrick Lane publishes a new book of poems. Page 3
Raiders reunite Page 26
www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014
VOL. 26, NO. 19
Committee divided over dam options I
increasing spillway called ‘monstrous intrusion’ into park. By TamaRa Cunningham ThE NEwS BULLETiN
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
glynis steen, centre, coaxes her daughter lydia, 6, to take the plunge into the nanaimo river in cassidy sunday. Meteorologists are predicting perfect summer weather for nanaimo with plenty of fine days and swimming holes and beaches packed throughout the season.
Hot weather sets temperature records By TamaRa Cunningham ThE NEwS BULLETiN
Slather on that sunscreen Nanaimo – sweltering temperatures are expected to stick around this week. E n v i ro n m e n t C a n a d a reports the heat wave will continue this week, with temperatures reaching a high of 32 C today. By the weekend, the mercury will cool to 25 C, but the dry weather remains a concern for the B.C. Coastal Fire Centre which is urging people to take precautions to prevent forest fires and report any sightings of smoke. Nanaimo has seen less rain and higher tempera-
tures since the beginning of May and is expected to see above-normal temperatures into September, according to David Phillips, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist. Between May 1 and July 6, there were 60 millimetres of precipitation compared to 132 mm over the same time last year. There were also 23 days of rain compared to the normal 30. “You have to be pinching yourself. This is almost Shangri-La. Its quite spectacular,” Phillips said, adding it would be hard not to give the summer a ‘perfect 10’ rating thanks to the balance of heat and rain and lack of
severe weather. “There’s not the violent and life-threatening weather you are seeing in other parts of the country with lightning strikes and with hail and with tornadoes and hurricanes ... this is about as good as you get.” Nanaimo’s streak of hot weather has boosted the fire rating to high for the region. The B.C. Coastal Fire Centre has not issued campfire restrictions but is asking people to be careful with any forest activities, such as avoiding use of all terrain vehicles on grass. To report forest fires, please call 1-800663-5555. news@nanaimobulletin.com
City staff members are recommending an $8.1-million fix for the Colliery dams, despite concerns the measure is too intrusive. Last week, the City of Nanaimo released options and cost estimates for the Colliery dams, as well as information on the decision-making process and next steps. The information comes after an eight-month and estimated $1.35-million process by the city’s technical committee to find solutions for the century-old dams and days after the Colliery Dam Park Preservation Society announced its withdrawal from the group over disagreements on mitigation options. According to the report, two measures are recommended by an engineer to address flood risk at the lower dam: ‘overtopping’ for $7.2 million or increasing the size of the spillway for $8.1 million. Engineers advise that doing nothing to the structures isn’t an option and a third solution – an alternative overtopping proposed by the preservation society’s own engineer – has not been considered because it lacks designs and costs, according to Toby Seward, the city’s director of social and protective services. While the preservation society isn’t keen on the cost of the city’s
overtopping solution, it also says it’s the most suitable for the park. It would involve cutting out several meters of soil on the embankment of the lower dam and mixing it with concrete to create a surface that would prevent erosion should water flow over the top. Deepening and widening the spillway is a “monstrous intrusion” and destructive, says society spokesman Jeff Solomon, who explains it would reduce water levels to “two small little puddles,” hurt living organisms and see the temporary closure of the park. However, the city’s recent report shows an executive committee of Snuneymuxw and senior city staff – a step above the technical committee in the decision-making chain – plans to recommend Nanaimo move ahead with spillway work. Seward said the option is straight-forward and provides a long-term, relatively maintenancefree solution whereas overtopping involves uncertainties around soil conditions and process. “Yes, there will be disruption and the lower lake will be drawn down by approximately three meters, but it will in no means be a puddle,” he said, adding both options would be intrusive and involve temporary park closures. “In both cases the hope is, or the plan is, to keep the middle dam and the reservoir there in use during this period.” Work and research to address the Colliery dams has been ongoing since 2012 and has cost taxpayers an estimated $2.35 million. See ‘SOCIETY’ /4
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