Two Powell River Regional District directors think the concept of initiating another water study is all wet.
Stan Gisborne, Electoral Area B director, and Colin Palmer, Electoral Area C director, both opposed a recommendation to spend $8,000 for a regional water master plan for a grant application.
At the Thursday, March 26, regional board meeting, Gisborne said he knew the study was for a Building Canada Fund grant application, but he said the regional district had already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on water studies, so he was opposed to the expenditure.
Palmer said the expenditure would be a total waste of money.
“We’ve already done it,” he said. “Plus, Lasqueti and Texada Islands will be paying. It’s not going to help them.”
Texada Island Director Sandy McCormick said being new to the regional board, she wondered if there is a regional water master plan in place.
Al Radke, the regional district’s chief administrative officer, said there is not a regional plan, but it would be the intent, if the regional board was to receive a grant for the plan, that all areas of the regional district would be included in the study.
The recommendation from the committee of the whole carried by the regional board was that the board approve the engagement of Kerr Wood Leidal Consulting Engineers to prepare a Building Canada Fund - Strategic Priorities Fund grant application at a cost of $8,000 for a regional water master plan.
