Water video
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has released a video about the water system and the importance of conservation. The launch of From Source to Tap comes as the SCRD awaits permits for a $5-million project to increase the drawdown capacity at Chapman Lake. The regional district is also looking for new sources of groundwater and completing a universal metering program.
About 85 per cent of people on SCRD systems get water from the Chapman Watershed, which includes Chapman Lake and Edwards Lake.
“We spend water like our account is always full,” the video says. “We water our lawns, gardens, parks and wash vehicles, which increases water demand from all sources when it is least plentiful,” said Shane Walkey, SCRD manager of utility services, in a release announcing the launch. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to always follow our outdoor water use restrictions.”
View From Source to Tap at www.scrd.ca/water.
Water regulations
Directors also approved amendments to the Water Rates and Regulations bylaw June 8.
The amended bylaw increases fines for violating water use restrictions to: $100 at Stage 1, $200 at Stage 2, $300 at Stage 3, and $400 at Stage 4.
It also increases the fee for special permits to water newly seeded lawns or fresh sod during restrictions to $50, and clarifies when pressure washing equipment can be used.
Pender library
Property owners in Area A will now support the Sechelt Public Library and the Pender Harbour Reading Room through direct taxation instead of yearly grants-in-aid.
SCRD directors approved a new bylaw to establish the Pender Harbour Library Service at the June 8 board meeting, after there were no negative responses from voters during a recent Alternative Approval Process.
With the service now established, the SCRD has the authority to tax property owners at maximum a rate of $0.04 for every $1,000 in assessed value, or to collect a maximum of $67,000.
Shíshálh signage
People who drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway are used to seeing signs in the Squamish language, and SCRD shíshálh Nation director Keith Julius says they’re hoping for something similar on the Coast.
Julius told the June 8 board meeting that the shíshálh Nation has been in discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure about including shíshálh place names on signs.
“Wherever there’s a creek-crossing, for example, we’d be putting up signs with the name of the creek in our language,” he said, adding they’d also like to see signs that acknowledge the road is passing through shíshálh territory. He said the shíshálh Nation would like to have similar discussions with the District of Sechelt.
