Riparian Areas Regulation
The Regional District of Nanaimo has now passed the required Bylaw amendments to bring its Official Community Plans into compliance with the newly enacted Provincial Riparian Areas Regulation. The Board held two well-attended public information meetings and a public hearing in September to keep residents informed about this process.
In cooperation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Provincial Ministry of Environment implemented the Riparian Areas Regulation on March 31, 2006. The legislation aims to protect the features, functions, and conditions that support fish health and habitat in riparian areas.
The regulation applies to all new residential, commercial, and industrial developments adjacent to a freshwater stream. The regulation does not apply to properties adjacent to the ocean, nor does it apply to reconstruction or repair of existing structures, farm uses on agricultural lands, or lands subject to the Forest Act or Private Managed Forest Land Act.
The Riparian Areas Regulation requires local governments to protect their riparian areas in accordance with the regulation by amending their current zoning bylaws and/ or Official Community Plans. Therefore, the RDN Bylaw amendments designate new fish habitat protection development permit areas and/or amend existing watercourse protection Development Permit Areas in each Official Community Plan area. A development permit may now be required for all development proposed within a riparian area. If you would like more information about this new Regulation, please call the RDN planning department at 390-6510 or 954-3798.
Lou Biggemann, Director Electoral Area F
Building Inspection Update
There has been much discussion in the community about whether or not the RDN should introduce building inspection in Electoral Area F. Based on the feedback received from the community, I have, after consulting with staff, decided to abandon any further consultation on building inspection for Electoral Area F. It is clear to me that the community is not supportive of building inspection and therefore the initiative will not be pursued at this time. Thank you to everyone who offered their comments about this issue.
Highway Maintenance Information
In Electoral Area F, as in other areas of the RDN, residents pay taxes toward a number of services. In some cases, these services are directly provided by the RDN. Examples of these services are emergency planning, community parks operation and maintenance, and recycling and garbage collection.
Other services, such as fire protection, are funded by the RDN but administered through another agency (volunteer fire departments). In these cases, the RDN is kept informed about service provision and the need for changes or alterations to service if any such needs arise. Our Volunteer Fire Departments do an excellent job and we are fortunate to have such a positive, effective partnership with them.
The RDN also liaises with senior levels of government to ensure residents’ needs are understood and taken into consideration. For example, the RDN does not directly maintain roads and highways as this is a Provincial responsibility—but as your Area Director I am in regular contact with the Ministry of Transportation with regard to traffic safety concerns and other issues that affect the residents of this Area. I continue to meet with Ministry representatives regarding Corcan Road, and I believe that this proposed new route will greatly benefit our community, particularly residents of Little Qualicum River Estates.
When residents have questions or concerns about highways, administrative staff at the RDN can supply the phone number for the Ministry, as well as the phone number for Emcon, which is contracted to provide highways and road maintenance within the RDN. For your convenience, the phone number for the Ministry of Transportation is 250-751-3246. The phone number for Emcon is 250-248-6212. These are the same phone numbers that I use when I have questions or concerns regarding highways or road maintenance.
If you have questions regarding which services are provided by the RDN and which ones are provided by other levels of government, feel free to contact me, or visit the Electoral Area F page at www.rdn.bc.ca located under the Corporate link.
Hi Neighbour Day
It was great to see the RDN Recreation and Parks department’s Summer Youth Volunteers and Leaders in Training at this year’s Hi Neighbour Day on August 19. This is an important day in Errington and we were glad that these dedicated youth took part. The Summer Youth Volunteers and Leaders in Training took part in the Hi Neighbour Parade and then organized a variety of children’s games throughout the day. I hope to see them back at this event in 2007.
Errington Volunteer Fire Department
Some residents may not be aware that the Errington Fire Department is the first rural fire department west of Ontario to receive a Superior Tanker Shuttle rating. This rating means that the department can haul water to a fire at the same rate as a residential hydrant—quite an accomplishment for a rural fire department that operates without the benefit of community water systems. The rating allows property owners to receive the highest available discount on property insurance premiums. The Department achieved this rating by strategically installing water tanks throughout the fire protection area, and by purchasing new firefighting vehicles with portable units. This achievement is of great benefit to our community and members of the department deserve our congratulations.
Whiskey Creek Water Update
The executive of the Whiskey Creek Residents’ Association met with RDN staff recently to discuss the option for the RDN to own and operate the Whiskey Creek Water System. This option was discussed at length several years ago and eventually went to a community vote. At that time a majority of residents opted for a community-operated system.
At the meeting, staff gave the executive some approximate estimates regarding the cost of an RDN-operated system, and outlined the procedure that the residents’ association would have to follow if it decides to ask the RDN to assume responsibility for their water system. It is important to emphasize that this discussion is in the very preliminary stages, and RDN ownership of this system will only be considered further if a large majority of Whiskey Creek residents supports the idea. The executive advised RDN staff that they will be in touch if they feel the community has an interest in this.
The Whiskey Creek Residents’ Association, the service area residents and the RDN Board of Directors would have to approve RDN ownership of the water system before the Regional District could assume this responsibility.
