Land once used as a firing range will soon become part of Thetis Lake Regional Park.

Visitors to the Capital Regional District-operated park will soon be able to access more open space, following site remediation currently underway on a 0.75 hectare parcel, formerly the site of a firing range for police forces, security companies and local gun clubs.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been going on for a long time,B次元官网网址� View Royal Coun. David Screech said of targeting the range area west of Highland Road for parkland.

B次元官网网址淓ven before I was on council before 2002 B次元官网网址� the need for clean up had been identified. It has just taken a long time, (but) we are actually going to do something with it now.B次元官网网址�

Remediation of the area involves excavating soil, dismantling the soil berms that were once fired upon and removing all contaminated soil from the site. The project is costing the CRD $712,610 while $74,720 for the project is being provided through provincial grant money.

Screech listed a couple of reasons for undertaking the project.

B次元官网网址淣umber 1, the risk of contamination and runoff will be eliminated, which I think is important,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎lso, the residents will be able to enjoy that area and use it as an open green space, which they (cannot really do) at the moment. That, to me, is the key benefit the neighbourhood will receive.B次元官网网址�

The soil at the former B次元官网网址減istol parkB次元官网网址� was deemed contaminated by the province after it closed, due to the metals from bullets and casings found at the site.

B次元官网网址淎s a town we are delighted to see it moving forward and get it completed. WeB次元官网网址檝e wanted to see it happen for many years,B次元官网网址� Screech said. B次元官网网址淲e look forward to when the fences can come down and it can (finally) be opened up to people.B次元官网网址�

There was no firm timeline available for the projectB次元官网网址檚 completion.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com