TUESDAY JULY 15, 2014
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B2B’S LONG WEEKEND
ROYALS BEAT B.C.’S BEST
Quality performances in local production running to Aug. 13
Solid pitching and hard playing earn Parksville team a win at home
A13
A37
WATER SYSTEM FUNDING
RDN stands with Parksville With decisions looming, city and region working together CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
The Regional District of Nanaimo vowed to stand beside the City of Parksville in their race against the clock for grant money. “We are joint venture partners and we are working together,” said Mike Donnelly, RDN water services manager. Donnelly said the RDN is hoping grant money for a new water system will come through in time to hold a referendum concurrent with the upcoming municipal election on Nov. 15, 2014, which would reduce the cost of an otherwise expensive referendum. “It’s a process issue,” said Donnelly. “Referendums cost a fair amount of money so in local government if you can hold a referendum at the same time as an election you aren’t spending money twice.” The RDN’s electoral area of Nanoose Bay — with the City of Parksville — are being forced to build a new water system after an Island Health decree that all groundwater must be treated. Donnelly said the preliminary estimates for the Englishman River Water Service project are around $37 million, split between Nanoose Bay (26 per cent) and Parksville (76 per cent). A news release issued by the City of Parksville confirmed city council sent letters to federal and provincial ministries outlining their “difficult situation and the need for senior government funding.” The letter was sent to Terry Lake, B.C. Minister of Health, Premier Christy Clark, Minister Todd Stone, Minister Coralee Oakes, MLA Michelle Stilwell, Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health for Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MP James Lunney. Donnelly said the RDN will stand beside and support the city. “We are with them (Parksville) on this,” he said. “We are working together.” See PROJECT NEEDS TO BE DONE, page A4
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
CASTLES TAKING SHAPE: Faces started coming out of the sand Saturday as sand sculptor Helena Bangert from Amsterdam pressed on, halfway to taking first place in the solo category. The competition part of the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting and Exhibition ended Sunday, but the 22 sculptures will stand in Parksville’s Community Park until August 17, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Read The NEWS Thursday for all the results.
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