At the conclusion of the previous council’s tenure the municipality invested $690,000 to purchase the park and wetland areas just north of the eastern tip of King’s Pond in Cedar Hill Park. It was a commendable decision arrived at in co-operation with the municipality and community members who love this park.
The new park area provides additional protection and breeding ground for hundreds of migratory and resident waterfowl as well as small mammals and amphibians and enhances the enjoyment for thousands of visitors to Cedar Hill Park.
There is now a proposal before mayor and council to approve a panhandle subdivision lot immediately across the road on a high rocky bluff. Besides being Garry oak and wildlife habitat, this rocky outcrop is a substantial part of the watershed that feeds directly into King’s Pond.
The subdivision proposal involves the removal of 50 dump truck loads of blasted rock to accommodate a 3,000 square-foot house. You do not have to be a hydrologist to know that blasting tons of rock will seriously affect the water flow and aquifers on the hillside that directly feeds the wetland area across the road. Environmental degradation and disruption of the sensitive wetland ecosystem is almost a given.
After spending over a half million in tax dollars to enhance the park it is absolutely ludicrous to expect council to approve a panhandle subdivision that could potentially destroy the very wetland ecosystem it has just spent so much effort and money protecting.
Andy Ruszel
Saanich
