Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Press Release About New CRD Land Purchase

Just got a media release from the Capital Regional District about their new land purchases, as reported earlier on Kayak Yak. The statement includes a call for assistance in funding -- if by any chance you're looking for a good investment to make for noble reasons, you could pay for a piece of this land for a CRD park or conservation. I'm just sayin'.
Here's the statement as sent to me by Anne Marie Marchi, an administrative clerk for the CRD:


Media Release
For Immediate Release March 4, 2010
Agreement in Principle for CRD Purchase of Regional Parks and Watershed Lands
Victoria, BC –
The Capital Regional District (CRD), The Land Conservancy (TLC) and Western Forest Products (WFP) have reached an agreement in principle for the CRD to acquire 2350 hectares of lands in the Jordan River, Sooke Potholes and Weeks Lake areas for recreation, conservation and watershed protection. The agreement, which includes over 3.5 km of shoreline from Jordan River to Sandcut Beach, will require the assistance of partners to help fund the acquisition.

The lands in question are being sold by Western Forest Products and lie within CRD boundaries. “The WFP lands are a subject of great interest to the Board and the agreement in principle generated significant discussion and support at the March 3 Special Board meeting.” said Geoff Young, CRD Board Chair. “I would like to acknowledge the hard work that JDF Electoral Area Director Mike Hicks has played in moving this process forward. Acquisition of these lands will help to further the CRD’s strategic priorities, protect our water supply in the Leech Watershed, conserve sensitive ecosystems and support recreation.”

“We recognize the public interest in these particular parcels, and we’re pleased to be making headway with the CRD towards keeping them available for public enjoyment” said Steve Frasher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Forest Products. “Our goal has been to make this a win-win for ourselves and for the CRD. We’re happy to see this taking shape.”

One of the CRD’s major land acquisition partners on this project is The Land Conservancy, which has stepped up with a strong commitment to raise the necessary funds to make this acquisition happen. “With this purchase we are going to add one of the last remaining pieces to the Sea to Sea Greenbelt,” said TLC Executive Director, Bill Turner. “To match the CRD Parks levy, TLC will reach out to its members and others in the community who understand how important it is to help make this purchase a reality.”

“The lands in both the Jordan River and Sooke Potholes areas have high recreation and conservation values,” said Regional Parks Chair Christopher Causton. “We are very interested in keeping them in public hands so that everyone both today and in the future can enjoy them.”

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For further information please contact:
Gary Ley, Western Forest Products Tel: 604.685.5485 Cell: 604.787.5467 email
Bill Turner, Executive Director The Land Conservancy of BC Tel: 250.589.8024 email
Sheila Taylor, Manager, Community Relations Corporate Communications Tel: 250.360.3308 Cell: 250.216.4427 email

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