Success at last (tongue firmly planted in cheek!)
I am sure that you have all become familiar with the little park that is next to the school at the intersection of Harper Rd. and Heriot Bay Rd. After about a year of negotiations between the School District and the Regional District we got that park donated for a dollar!. This was a wonderful community success story.

The only thing was, it had a small pond component to it and ponds tend to attract ducks. Those ducks have been a real hit with the kids from the school and the staff and patrons at the gas station. The ducks soon found that there was a readily available supply of popcorn at the gas station and frequently made the perilous journey across the road. To make a long story short, I was approached by Mia Frishholz (one of the key people in the park's creation) to try to get a road sign from the Ministry of Highways that said "Duck Crossing". I approached our Highways supervisor of the day and followed up with his successor and lo and behold, a few weeks ago a sign was erected. Chalk one up to community involvement and interdepartmental cooperation! But remember folks, ducks will be ducks. So please watch out for our fine feathered friends!

Local Government Elections - yes, I am willing to let my name stand as your Director! ... please read on...

As you may have seen in the ad elsewhere in this issue, Local Government elections are once again upon us, close on the heels of the Federal election. I would just like to let you know that it has been wonderful to serve as your representative over the years and that I would love to continue for the next term. Hence I will be letting my name stand as Director for our area in the new Strathcona Regional District. There is an awful lot of work to be done in the next three years and I am qualified to do that work for you and with you. There are numerous projects that have been started in this last term that I am anxious to see through to completion. We have completed a lot together and I hope to have the opportunity to continue that practice.

BC Ferries town hall meeting
I was just notified that BC Ferries will be having a town hall meeting on Thursday, November 13th from 7 to 9 pm at the Community Centre. Anything you might want to tell them, hint, hint? The regular BC Ferries Advisory Committee meeting will take place the next morning, Nov. 14th. Time and place to be announced. Tell your friends and see you there!

Legion tax exemption
I was able once again this year to convince the Board that a permissive tax exemption should be granted to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #154, on Quadra Island. This is to help lessen the burden on one of our great community organizations. Every year the Legion gives out quite a bit of money to worthy causes in this community and I am happy to help defray the cost of running their organization.

Heriot Bay sewer proposal and Quathiaski Cove sewer expansion
Our work on these two projects continues. We now have our consultant working on the project in earnest and the Committee has just passed the motions needed to get us the necessary Provincial and Federal grants so that we can get on with the studies and the actual work if the community decides that is what they want to happen. I am very pleased to finally get to this stage. Until we have good information, we cannot make good decisions and we are now on our way to obtaining that information. I hope to have public meetings early in the fall and will keep you updated.

Bute Inlet mine exploration
We went to a public hearing on this issue back in May at Stuart Island. The outcome was that we gather more information and hold another public hearing to make the decision. We have now been notified that the Province has issued the permit. This does not preclude in any way, our process. We were trying to set up a second public hearing but the timing is really bad. The people most effected by the operation are the residents of Stuart Island and the users of Bute Inlet. As it turns out most of them will not be in the area after Thanksgiving, and that is the only time that we can hold the hearing. Staff are working on trying to find a solution. If and when the hearing is held will be advertised in all of the local media.

Hoskyn Channel landing rezoning
The Regional District has upgraded the dock at Hoskyn Channel Landing in conjunction with the community and Marine Harvest. Part of the process of the upgrade was to extend the anchor lines further out into Hoskyn Channel. This needed the approval of Provincial and Federal agencies. We got those approvals to extend the lease boundaries and now we must extend the zoning to match the lease boundaries. We have given this proposed bylaw first and second reading and recommended waiver of the public hearing, since it is a housekeeping item for community purposes. There will be advertising, so if any of you have objections, you will have an opportunity to present them so that they can be considered by the Board.

Quadra Estates subdivision covenant
The final approval for the Quadra Estates subdivision came forward to have a Section 219 covenant registered on title to prevent further subdivision. (This is the old Wilby farm, at the south end). The agent was present for the meeting and directors had lots of questions based on the information provided. It was decided by the Committee that there were many questions that could not be answered at that meeting, so to be safe, it was referred back to the planners to gather the information prior to the subdivision being finally approved. That will come back to our October Committee meeting.

Granite Bay wharf upgrades
A site visit at the storage yard in Campbell River will take place this week with all parties involved. This will determine everything that will be needed for the project and who will supply what materials. I look forward to the outcome of the meeting and will report to you next issue.

I think that is about it for this issue. I will be at the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention in Penticton from Sunday, September 21st until Saturday, September 27th. I will have access to email during that time. Otherwise, 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 J), SRD