Tim Collins/ B次元官网网址 staff
The level of frustration over Central Saanich councilB次元官网网址檚 inability to resolve issue of water management in Maber Flats continues to grow, and now councillors have been advised to refrain from making any public statements regarding the issue, for fear of generating further litigation against the municipality or prejudicing .
Councillor Bob Thompson, when asked for his comments on councilB次元官网网址檚 July 31 decision to put several aspects of the Maber Flats controversy on hold pending further study and review, refused to offer any opinion of the situation.
B次元官网网址淲e have been advised by our municipal legal counsel that we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 say anything until they have a chance to review the situation, so no comment. I understand we may have something in place by next (Monday) (August 21) and will make some comments then,B次元官网网址� said Thompson.
August 21 is also the date for a meeting at municipal hall with all the stakeholders of the Maber Flats controversy.
Larry Sluggett of Sluggett Farm, said that itB次元官网网址檚 a meeting he will most certainly attend.
B次元官网网址淭his has been going on for 20 years and itB次元官网网址檚 been a very frustrating experience,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淭his is a beautiful piece of property with deep organic soil and they want to put a retention pond over 25 acres of it, putting it under water without knowing that itB次元官网网址檚 going to make any difference in the long run.B次元官网网址�
At the July 31 meeting, Thompson appeared to share the concern that council still didnB次元官网网址檛 have enough information to make a decision.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to go down a road where we spend $60,000 dollars on a study (on the Maber Flats retention facility) and then find that we have to do a 90 degree turn and do something else,B次元官网网址� he said during the discussion on the issue.
Jack Marr, a member of the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission, has as opposing the retention pond concept as well.
B次元官网网址淭his has been going on for over 20 years and with so many competing issues going on. I think thereB次元官网网址檚 a danger that the value of this beautiful piece of land will be overlooked. You donB次元官网网址檛 take 25 acres of some of the best farmland in the province and put it under water,B次元官网网址� he said.
The District of Central is already facing legal action from the owners of Silver Rill Corn. Ltd. who have registered a civil claim in which they allege that the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 ongoing allowance of residential and commercial development in the Maber Flats area has led to increased flooding of their land, rendering it B次元官网网址渦nfarmableB次元官网网址�. The District also recently ended another property ownerB次元官网网址檚 to a portion of their property within the Maber Flats area.
Beyond the issue of the farmlandB次元官网网址檚 value, Thompson is on record at the July 31 meeting as wanting to find a solution to the issue that respects the concerns of a variety of interest groups. He cited the fact that there are B次元官网网址渇arming, environmental, birding, and First Nations groups, all involvedB次元官网网址� and asked how they could be kept involved so council isnB次元官网网址檛 left with the kind of fractious debate that has characterized the ongoing controversy at Island View Beach.
