Well, here we are approaching the end of another month. I cannot believe how fast the time seems to be going this spring. Far too much going on and no end in sight. A few issues have dominated my most recent articles and I hope to round out my report a bit in this issue, with as many updates as I can.

Granite Bay Park wharf
We are finally at the float installation phase of this ongoing project. As the project manager and your director, I cannot say that I will be sad to see this one completed! It has taken an incredibly long time due to various requirements and hold ups. It was also a very complex project to start with. The floats will be on site on Wednesday and I will have a volunteer work crew there ready to help me with the installation. They are being delivered by a large landing barge called the Sea Roamer and the crew of that vessel will deal with anchor placement and connection of chains and lines to the floats. Our crew will be connecting each section of float to the next one and any other jobs that come up. This should be the end of this project. We will be having a celebration gathering around mid-May and the entire community will be welcome to come and notification will be put in all of the local media as to date and time. Hopefully by next issue I will have a photo included in my report for all to see what can be accomplished when our local government, our local communities and our local businesses work together. I will also be acknowledging all of the businesses and people who have donated to the project.

Evans Bay wharf (Read Island)
I am under a "disclosure agreement" between the Strathcona Regional District and Transport Canada, which means that I cannot talk about the details regarding the finer points of this process, but I am sure that I can at least let you know that we are in discussion regarding the wharf at Evans Bay and that things are going extremely well. I have had reams of paper to read and review and have made one trip to Vancouver to meet with officials and have at least one more to go. I will also be visiting the site with staff, the engineer and community members very soon. So, as soon as I am able to share more details, I will.

Village Project
I have been very quiet on this topic for some time. Not because nothing is going on, but because we are still dealing with one outstanding issue that needed to be resolved. Once it is resolved we will be in discussion about " where to from here?". Sorry that I can't be more specific at this time. More to follow.

Q. Cove and Heriot Bay sewer issues
Both of these initiatives are in the planning stages and awaiting further provincial grants to do the engineering studies that will tell us where to go next. The issues have been before the SRD board a number of times in the past months, but there was really nothing new to report to you at that time. I will keep on the staff that are working on this and hopefully get things moving!

Bute Inlet power project proposal
I won't go over the details of this since it has been the focus of many reports over the past months. I just want to say that it is an ongoing, daily issue that I (and others) am dealing with. The Environmental Assessment Office report is due in the next couple of weeks and we will know better where we are at with this proposal. The coverage of the issue is in the media almost daily and is across the province. It has even been turned into an election issue by some in the media. I am trying to remain focused on the issue and not the politics. I ask that all of you continue to remain vigilant over this issue. It is a big one for our area. Stay tuned.

That is it for this issue. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area C), SRD