Re: Boundary quandary (PQB News, Sept. 24)
The Regional District of Nanaimo has spent thousands of our taxpayer dollars over the past 20 years on study after study for new and improved recreation facilities for the Parksville Qualicum Beach community, to no avail.
In frustration, Qualicum Beach is planning for a new rubberized field, School District 69 is looking at a rubberized track option and Parksville is out to tender for a proposal for a new pool and recreation centre/multi-sportplex. All were, and still are RDN top priorities for the next 10 years.
Maybe the new Oceanside Services Committee should consider a total “Oceanside Boundary Restructure Study” to determine if our tax base can support its own new and unique District 69 regional government – the Oceanside Regional District. We could control our own taxes with our own board of directors and staff.
If nothing else, it would give the total community input into the study process on an equal basis.
The RDN today is the fifth-largest of 29 districts in B.C..
The RDN board of directors has 19 elected officials. D69 has seven directors (36.8%) while Nanaimo district 68 has 12 directors (63.2%). This is a huge imbalance of political power and tax dollar allocations at the RDN board level.
Even with the new RDN D69 OSC, all Parksville Qualicum Beach approved recommendations must still be ratified by the total RDN board.
The current RDN boundary has 155,698 residents. A split would reduce D68 to 108,739 residents and be ranked sixth-largest of 30 districts in the province of B.C. Parksville Qualicum Beach, with a population of 46,959 residents, would be positioned as the 17th largest of 30.
This would position it between the Alberni-Clayoquot (CVRD) at 20 of 30 and the Comox Valley (CVRD) at 11 of 30 districts that both border on our community on Vancouver Island. Just saying – food for thought.
Reg Nosworthy
Meadowood