Election profiles Candidates from four major parties discuss motivation for running in federal election. PAGES 3-5
www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
VOL. 27, NO. 33
Gabriola asked to vote on buying recreational property in village core Tree trimming
BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
Nacolle Ondra, city horticulturalist, uses a reciprocating saw to cut some trimmings down to size at Maffeo Sutton Park so she can fit them into the back of a pickup truck Monday. Heavy winds and rain over the weekend had little effect on Nanaimo’s downtown waterfront and left city workers to take care of their normal maintenance duties. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Directors fast-track pipe repair
I
RISK OF further leaks leads push to fix outflow. BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
Regional District of Nanaimo directors voted to fast-track repairs to Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre land section sewage pipe. There have been leaks in the past year, including
one on July 29 that closed Morningside Park. The regional district said there is risk of further leaks of “increasing severity” over the next year, as the current steel pipe is more than 40 years old and failing. The board approved a motion on Aug. 25 to promptly move ahead with commission and installation of the land portion of the new pipe through Morningside. Sewage line replacement was already planned as
part of an $18-million project. New land pipe had been installed up to the park in 2014, with remaining land and marine sections originally scheduled for replacement in 2016. According to Randy Alexander, regional district general manager of regional and community services, the district would like to have work done by lateOctober, due to tides and wastewater flows associated with this time of year,
which presents a tight timeline for construction. Given the time constraints, there won’t be a tender process, said Alexander. The regional district has already engaged project engineering firm Opus Dayton Knight to fabricate the high-density plastic pipe and the tie-ins, temporary pipe that connects the old and new sections of pipe. Knappett Industries will do the installation. See ‘REPAIR’ /6
Residents of Gabriola Island are expected to decide next year whether they approve of borrowing upwards of $455,000 to purchase recreational property near Gabriola Elementary School. On Aug. 25, the Regional District of Nanaimo board approved terms of a land purchase deal with Emcon Services for three parcels of land at Paisley Place. The lots total 3.44 hectares. According to Howard Houle, regional district director for Gabriola Island, district staff will now formulate a bylaw to borrow the amount and it will be presented to the board for consideration at a future meeting. The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development must approve the bylaw before it goes to referendum and Houle anticipates if all goes according to plan, the referendum will take place in February. Houle said he brought forward the recommendation because there is no other recreationally zoned land in Gabriola’s downtown core. There will be community consultation in the future to determine what will go on the land, he said. If a majority approves, the initial impact on residential taxpayers will be $4 per $100,000 of assessed value for property taxes. “That’ll be the assessment in the first year because, of course, we have administrative costs and there’s financing costs and then the second year it should drop to approximately $3.52 per $100,000,” said Houle. According to terms of the deal, the regional district must receive approval of the electorate by March 27, with the closing date March 31. If there is a delay, Houle said the regional district would have to negotiate a new deal with Emcon. “I certainly hope the community will get on board,” said Houle. “I think this is a great project for the future. We lack recreational facilities on Gabriola and I’m really hoping they’ll support this.” reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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