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CVRD Briefs

Feasibility study to develop rainwater drainage service for Queen's Ditch area of Lazo Marsh

The regional district committee of the whole recommended Rod Nichol’s request for a feasibility study to develop a rainwater drainage service that addresses upgrades and maintenance at the Queen’s Ditch area of Lazo Marsh.

Area properties have experienced serious flooding in recent years, especially the past year with more than 30 properties affected in the lower Lazo watershed.

“In speaking with CFB Comox and now the most recent announcement by the federal government, $3.8 million for upgrading the Queen’s Ditch, it is time we look at establishing a local service area to address continuing maintenance costs,” the Area B director states in a letter to fellow members of the CVRD board.

•Comox director Ken Grant feels the CVRD does not have the right to brand the region as “Festival Valley” before a branding exercise has been conducted.

During discussion of district priorities from 2015-2018, Grant questioned if the brand development request from the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS) is a priority.

“I think we are Festival Valley,” said Courtenay director Erik Eriksson, who feels festivals are a unique feature of the Valley.

Fellow Courtenay reps Bob Wells and Manno Theos agreed, but Grant noted that hundreds of communities call themselves festival valley or city.

“I’m not comfortable with the way this has been done,” Grant said.

His motion to remove “Festival Valley” from the priority plan was defeated by a 5-5 vote.

The committee approved the 2015-2018 strategic priorities. Water governance is listed as the top corporate priority.