THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014
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NEW WATER SYSTEM FOR PARKSVILLE/NANOOSE
Searching for options $37 M plan will likely have be done in phases; funding questions remain JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
With the hope of wished-for funding from senior governments fading, the proposed $37 million Englishman River Water Service project has to re-organize into phases, local politicians said this week. The provincial ministry of health has mandated that all surface water collected by municipal water systems destined for homes and businesses must be treated by 2016. That has forced communities like Nanoose Bay and Parksville to upgrade their systems. The Englishman River Water Service (ERWS) board, along with Regional District of Nanaimo staff, had developed a plan for a $37 million system, but was expecting what used to be a traditional funding split of one-third each between the municipalities, the province and the federal government. It became clear at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference two weeks ago that kind of funding formula wasn’t going to happen. See ISSUE FOR NEW COUNCILS, page A13
Fairwinds for sale JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Fairwinds is for sale. A notice on the Nanoose Bay development’s website Wednesday morning indicated the property — which has 700 homes, a championship golf course, private fitness centre, trails and a full-service marina — is for sale, about three months after receiving the zoning-bylaw go-ahead to build up to 2,000 more homes. According to a notice on Fairwinds.ca: “In July 2014, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) completed fourth reading and adoption of the zoning-stage bylaws for the Schooner Cove and Lakes District development. This milestone marked a natural time for Fairwinds’ ownership, bcIMC, to review the appropriate next course of action for Fairwinds. Having now completed that review, the decision has been made to put Fairwinds up for sale, and a sale process has commenced.” See OWNERS CONFIRM, page A13
JESSICA SKELTON PHOTO
THANKSGIVING LUNCH: Micheline Messner enjoys lunch at the SOS’ Seniors are Talking Program Thanksgiving Lunch on Wednesday at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre. About 80 members of the group attended the event. Quality Foods donated much of the food, including thick-cut ham and pumpkin pie tarts made specially for the event. “They really went out of their way,” said Shelley St. Marie, the Seniors are Talking Program co-ordinator.
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