Richmond Review, September 05, 2014

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the richmond

City’s public art the subject of new exhibit 7

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City seeks to keep port off farmland

River Rock revenues keep rolling Casino has boosted city coffers $10 million in the first half of 2014 by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter Revenue records continue to be shattered at Great Canadian Gaming Corporation’s flagship casino in Richmond. River Rock Casino Resort’s earnings of $53.8 million in the second quarter of 2014 were the highest in the property’s history, according to financial

statements filed by the publicly-traded company. The figure is a 33 per cent increase from the same period last year. “The second quarter marked River Rock’s 10 year anniversary, and the property celebrated by achieving record results, once again generating significant growth in both gaming and hospitality revenues,” said Rod Baker, the company’s president and CEO, in a news release. Soaring casino revenues mean a bigger take for the City of Richmond, which receives 10 per cent of net gaming revenue from River Rock for host-

ing the casino. According to a Tuesday finance report from city hall, Richmond coffers netted $5.57 million from the casino in the second quarter alone—up from $4.11 million in 2013. The increase is partially due to the opening of new high-limit table games room earlier this year. That brings Richmond’s total take for 2014 to $10.05 million so far. Last year, River Rock gamblers handed the city a record $17,631,000. Richmond has long earmarked part of the cash to cover Richmond Olympic Oval construction costs. The oval’s

share in gaming revenue will end in 2015 and shift to the planned pool and seniors centre in Minoru Park. Last year the city spent other casino money on capital projects, and shifted extra revenue into a reserve account, which civic politicians can spend at their discretion. Richmond’s gaming revenue was relatively flat until 2011, when a rapid rise began. River Rock accounts for nearly half of all earnings for Great Canadian, which operates numerous other gaming properties, including Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam. ®

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The City of Richmond is calling on the province to block Port Metro Vancouver from converting farmland into industrial property. In a letter delivered to Derek Sturko, deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, the city noted the port owns four agricultural properties in Richmond totalling 97 hectares (240 acres) “and will not commit to farming” them. “The City of Richmond requests that the minister seek provincial government support to prepare an (Agricultural Land Commission) policy to prohibit (the port) from converting agricultural land to port industrial uses,” wrote Terry Crowe, the city’s manager of policy planning, in a letter presented Wednesday at a council committee meeting. The city is also calling on provincial officials to urge the federal government to develop a conflict resolution mechanism for cities and the port. The comments were included in Richmond’s response to the ministry’s proposed changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve. A month-long consultation on the changes—centred on relaxing rules around secondary farmland uses in the Interior, Kootenay and North regions—closed Aug. 22. Also under consideration is allowing breweries and distilleries, as wine and cider production are now allowed, and relaxing rules to permit more off-farm products to be sold from farms. —Matthew Hoekstra

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Don Fennell photo Members of the Richmond Kyokushin Karate Club demonstrate the discipline associated with the martial arts. Coinciding with the start of the club’s 47th year, martial arts is in the spotlight this weekend with the inaugural TAFISA World Martial Arts Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval. See story, page 29

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