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Fresh take on beloved beverage Could cold draft coffee be the next big thing? page 3
All candidates proves popular
Public packs the gym at Parkland to hear from federal election candidates, page 4
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Friday, September 18, 2015
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CRD ignoring citizen concerns on Island View Beach, advocates say Tim Collins
tions regarding the park’s future, told a Black Press reporter that “this park wants to be wet.” After ongoing criticism of the proA long-standing controversy regarding one of the Capital Regional posed management plan, the CRD District’s most popular parks shows withdrew that plan in 2013. In May 2014, the CRD obtained no sign of abating. The issue goes back to 2011, when approval for a new approach to the the CRD was called to task for failing process; an approach that would be to meet its responsibilities for clean- based upon “factual, technical, and ing drainage ditches at the park. The scientific” information that would ensure the public was fully ditches help control infestainformed and engaged in tions of mosquitoes -- somethe process. thing that has plagued the However, the public area over the years. meetings that followed In 2013, a new CRD mainly focused on the spe“interim management plan” cies at risk within park was proposed by staff. The boundaries. That’s when plan caught the attention of the troubles began anew the park’s most vocal profor the CRD. ponents, The Friends of Their initial presentaIsland View Beach (FOIVB). tions listed some 30 species “The information that at risk within the park but, they presented at that time after the FOIVB called that was ... designed to advance Jason Austin number into question, the their own agenda with little CRD eventually reduced regard to what the people using the park actually wanted,” the number to nine. Even then, according to Austin, said Jason Austin, president of the FOIVB. “That basic approach hasn’t the public presentations continued to inflate the issue of species at risk. changed to this day.” “The fact is we are all concerned Concerns raised by the FOIVB at the time centered upon the belief the about species at risk, but let’s deal CRD wanted to abandon the berms with the information on a factual and ditches that helped the property basis,” Austin said. “Policies regarding species at risk should be a shield to stay dry (and mosquito free). In 2013, Lynn Wilson, a CRD park planner who continues to be Please see: involved in preparing recommendaIsland View Beach, page A24
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Carlie Connolly/News Staff
Return of Dino In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Dean Martin Variety Show, vocalist Mike Goubult brought his tribute to the original brat packer to the Shoal Centre on Wednesday, much to the delight of residents in attendance.
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