From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello,
The seasons are turning and the cozy joys of autumn are close at hand. This report has news about municipal interest in joining the electoral area planning service, and progress towards a wood-chipping service in collaboration with Cortes Island.
In the past, Rural Directors have not always appreciated Campbell River ‘interference’ in their affairs. An initiative coming out of the Strathcona Regional District’s (SRD) Municipal Services Committee could result in a lot more interference from Campbell River and other municipalities. A planning service typically manages zoning and land use rules, reviews development and building applications, prepares community and regional growth plans, protects environmentally sensitive areas, and coordinates public input on land use decisions. They would like to take control of the Electoral Area Planning Service.
Continue reading SRD Municipalities wanting control of the Electoral Areas Planning Service
While most of the Strathcona Regional District’s costs can be directly allocated to specific areas, others are labelled administration costs and need to be shared among the 10 communities. At their February 19 meeting the SRD Board discussed ways to make a more fair allocation of this expense.
Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch explained, “ To put this in perspective, let’s say the SRD’s total budget is $20 million or whatever it may be this year, we’re talking about the $2.8 million for admin costs.”
Campbell River has close to three quarters of the SRD’s population, but only contributes $1.6 million towards the $2.8 million administration bill. That’s just under 56%. Some Campbell River Directors dispute that number and most appear to think they are paying too much for a service they derive very little benefit from. Mayor Kermit Dahl served notice that at the next SRD Board meeting he will move to slash Campbell River’s contribution by 82%.
Continue reading Possible SRD Breakdown? Campbell River Vows To Cut PaymentsFrom the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello, Here in the grip of winter, the lengthening daylight reminds us that spring is just around the corner.
The prospect of Area C property owners being tapped to pay tax in support of Strathcona Gardens is understandably causing alarm among many. Along with receiving a steady stream of emails in opposition, I’m also receiving questions about the possible costs and when we’ll know more, and the why of it all. I’ve been reporting as this has slowly unrolled over the last couple of years, and realize it may be helpful to provide a comprehensive snapshot of how we got to where we are and when we may know more: that’s what this Report attempts.
Another wind project is under consideration in our region. A Quebec based renewable energy company hopes to build a 200 megawatt (MW) wind farm 4 kilometres south of Sayward. Boralex has applied to the BC government for an investigative license to build the proposed Sitka Wind Project on crown land.
Continue reading Proposed Wind Project for Sayward
