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Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
TAMMI DIMOCK
Personal Real Estate Corp.
250.642.6361
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Jordan River residents may be forced to sell out BC Hydro reports consider the area an extreme earthquake hazard Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Doug Harvey isn’t moving, he doesn’t want to sell his house and he wants to stay exactly where he is in Jordan River. On December 5 residents of the small community of about 11 homes and businesses stretched along Highway 14 received a letter from BC Hydro offering to purchase their homes. “Yes, isn’t that nice of them,” said Harvey. “They offered to buy our properties at this stage. I don’t want to sell, if I did I would have a for sale sign out.” The letters to the residents came as a result of new information in regard to a completed seismic study given to BC Hydro. In the letter it states that, “a major earthquake could put the Jordan River system dam, downstream properties and infrastructure at a higher risk than previously understood. A major earthquake is one that causes considerable damage to buildings with collapsing, falling walls, broken walls, Shelly@ShellyDavis.ca www.ShellyDavis.ca
ing of a dry land sort and associated operations, one utility property and two park properties operated by the CRD. Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks is reeling from the news. He said it is devastating and it has huge ramifications. “The solution in my view is for BC Hydro to upgrade the dam, number one, and to compensate the property owners because they’ve destroyed the value, buy them out at
until they die or choose to leave.” Hicks said the residents would have to sign an agreement with no recourse in case of a quake. He mentioned the camping at the CRD campground and if it is not allowed then BC Hydro should purchase the park as well. “If we can’t camp we should be compensated as well until they fix the dam. It supplies 35 per cent of the Island’s power. He said if the dam comes down with a magnitude 9 or greater earth-
proved properties. There are three industrial properties consist-
fair market value and give them life estate and allow them to stay
quake, what’s going to
Submitted photos
Doug Harvey and his dog Sallty do not want to sell or move from their home in Jordan River. Right, Sean and Susan Johnson say the manmade dam is the problem not a natural disaster. twisting and falling chimneys and other structures.” The area has been declared a tsunami zone. BC Hydro states they have been working with the Juan de Fuca Emergency Program to share information and ensure that emergency plans reflect the seismic hazard. BC Hydro representatives will be meeting with the residents on December 12 and representatives will be arranging individual meeting with property
owners. Harvey has been in the area for most of his working life. He worked for Western Forest Products for 35 years and is now retired. He said there are a couple of others who worked for WFP living in Jordan River as well. “Our properties are totally devalued and some people feel stuck between a rock and a hard place… I haven’t digested it yet.” Harvey theorizes that BC Hydro will buy up the town and the
first step is to offer up and buy out what property they can. He said they could also expropriate the properties. “We haven’t heard the end of it… they’ve pretty much screwed us. I’m not selling now,” said Harvey. He said BC Hydro was offering market value plus 5 per cent. Life would change for Harvey. Right now he said he has ocean front property without the ocean front taxes and he can launch a boat and go fishing when-
EllenBergerud@Shaw.ca LorendaSimms@gmail.com RealEstateSooke.com LorendaSimms.com
en Gard
Shelly Davis 778-352-3535
ever he wants. He said the community is made up of friends and this is a “disruption to say the least.” He also said the restaurant Breakers just sold in the last couple of weeks and they wouldn’t be too impressed. Another small business just opened as well along the strip of highway. Jordan River has nine homes, one of which is a B&B and two have newly started up restaurants on them and there are two unim-
Ellen Bergerud 250-818-6441
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