Wild Animal Rescue Centre in Metchosin will finally build a waterline to its property after receiving a major share of one of the largest legacy donations in BC SPCA history.
About $500,000 of a roughly $2.5 million legacy donation has been earmarked for Wild ARC's long awaited project to connect to the regional water system. The centre, based on Malloch Road near Pedder Bay, currently trucks in its water.
John Hoole, senior manager of BC SPCAB次元官网网址檚 planned giving department, said the unexpected $2.5 million gift is the largest legacy donation heB次元官网网址檚 ever seen. Most legacy gifts fall in the range of $10,000 to $20,000.
The donor of the money, whose name has not been released, stipulated she wanted it spent in Greater Victoria and on SPCA infrastructure projects.
B次元官网网址淭his is a huge amount that enables us to support capital projects,B次元官网网址� Hoole said. B次元官网网址淭his money will help Wild ARC with the safety and survival of wild animals and in the long run it will pay for itself.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he water project fits perfectly for this criteria,B次元官网网址� said Sara Dubois, BC SPCA manager of wildlife services and who managed Wild ARC from 2004 to 2008. B次元官网网址淲e need the waterline, thatB次元官网网址檚 always been our No. 1 priority. We ran out of water twice this summer.B次元官网网址�
Wild ARC has about 22,000 litres of water delivered every two days in the summer, summing to about $25,000 per year, to help clean and care for the 2,000 animals that pass though the facility each year.
The water line will be built by the Capital Regional District starting in January or February. Wild ARC expects to have piped water is by spring 2012, the busiest season for the facility.
B次元官网网址淣ot having water on the property, no pun intended, as has been real drain on resources,B次元官网网址� quipped Dubois, a native of Langford and a Belmont secondary grad.
Wild ARC uses water in pools for aquatic animals, to clean the facility and for drinking water. The timing of the legacy fund couldnB次元官网网址檛 be better B次元官网网址� the centre is currently building a $100,000, 1,500-square-foot aquatics facility featuring five rehabilitation pools.
Once the centre has piped water, Dubois said the water bill will be fraction of what it is now. B次元官网网址淭hen the extra money can go to food for the animals.B次元官网网址�
Wild ARC has been working towards getting piped water since 2006. The non-profit was told connecting to the closest regional waterline would cost $400,000. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 see any other grants significant enough to get the $400,000. The only option was waiting for a gift,B次元官网网址� Dubois said.
Wild ARCB次元官网网址檚 waterline will connect to a dead-end of an existing pipe under Liberty Drive. Once the work begins this winter, the project will take about six to eight weeks to complete.
B次元官网网址淲e hopefully want our neighbours to tap into the line and pay some of the portion,B次元官网网址� Dubois said. B次元官网网址淲e want to put it in and share it.B次元官网网址�
In 2007 most residents on Malloch road and a few on Liberty Drive agreed to collectively chip in 20 per cent of the cost and Wild ARC would cover the remainder. Some residents also truck in water to their homes.
Hooking up to regional water will raise the homesB次元官网网址� property values and lower fire insurance rates, Dubois said.
B次元官网网址淭his only happening because someone supported us,B次元官网网址� Dubois said. B次元官网网址淭his is something that has been in the works for years. The reality is we could not have done this alone.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
