Dear Editor; Did anyone notice a recent flurry of activities within the Cowichan Valley Regional District especially with respect to southern electoral areas Mill Bay/Malahat, Shawnigan Lake and Cobble Hill?
Proposed depot development site (photo Three Point Properties)
An Official Community Plan (OCP) under the name of “South Cowichan OCP” is nearly ready to be adopted, Bamberton proposal from Three Point Properties (TPP); YES -- You did hear it right the first time; is back on the table, re-cycling facility (ECO-Depot) project is on full steam, Grant-in-Aid coffers are being emptied to benefit special groups and a new set of Alternate Approval Process (APP) launched to increase our taxes.(TPP).
The Public is lured into thinking that this Bamberton proposal has been removed from the table, but recent activities indicate the contrary. The Advisory Planning Commission in Mill Bay/Malahat as of Tuesday, May 10, 2011 has recommended the commercial and industrial expansion of our forestry lands without any regard to environmental impacts! And, the said recommendation was primarily derived from references to content in the new “South Cowichan OCP” and expedited processing.
Decisions for the future are being made this day based on the yet to be adopted official community plan. All this with the blessing of three southern electoral area directors and the BC “Liberal” Government provincial ministry (Let us not forget the recent Ministerial Exemption obtained by Gerry Giles).
It took more than five (5) years in the making of the so called “South Cowichan OCP” and the public was given two (2) weeks to respond to an arduous survey?
Is proper zoning in place to establish this re-cycling facility (ECO-Depot) at Cameron-Taggart?
Currently zoned Forestry, on the shores of Saanich Inlet, are beautiful, fragile, eco-sensitive Bamberton Lands; which could be destined for parks and developed as a tourist destination center. However, our visionary leaders see them as the heartland of industrial activities. Maybe, at the top of the Malahat, it will be in our best interest to set up a huge sign saying, “Welcome to the Industrial Capital of Vancouver Island”?
Or, perhaps maybe, all the Citizens unite and flatly refuse these outrageous proposals from this set of Directors.
