I was disturbedto read a fear-mongering and rabble-rousing ad in the April 25 Hungry Eye claiming that the "Hornby Island went from 10 acres to 5 to 2.5 to 1 to .5 acres and their groundwater is now contaminated". I contacted Doug Christie, President of the Hornby Island Groundwater Society. He told me that this statement is absolutely not true and that I can quote him on that. In fact, recent tests showed that only 20% of Hornby wells were contaminated, considered a very good result according to VIHA.

As far as subdivision is concerned, Doug Christie told me that there were 4 or 5 subdivisions that had been developed and approved at the time when the Islands Trust was established in the early 70s. Other than that, the lots on Hornby are a minimum of 10 acres with 2 houses per 10 acres. Some of these ten-acre properties have joint owners, 3 of which are coming up for review.

This should clear up at least this one bit of misinformation in our local media.