The "Bush" Syndrome
Summerland Council seems to be suffering from the George Bush syndrome on the Summerland Hills Project. You are either with us or against us. Anyone who asks an intelligent question is labeled a malcontent and not representative of the silent majority. However, individuals asking questions are a basic form of public input.
One question is why good agricultural land in the area of Prairie Valley was designated marginal and then given away untendered to the developer. This land was not used simply because it was never supplied with water. The boundaries of agricultural land in Summerland were established nearly a hundred years ago by the constraints of a gravity water system, marked by the ‘flume line’. Since that time improved technology has been employed to provide water to dry areas such as the Summerland Golf and Country Club. Six acres of my orchard lies above the old flume line. So why not be up front about this issue and say we have good agricultural land which we are not prepared to supply with water ……………..so we are giving it to a private developer?
What is of real concern is the process. The project is being fast-tracked far ahead of the time lines normal for a project of this size. Too much reliance is being put on the opinions of consultants hired by the developer. Many in the agricultural community are concerned that the process will set a precedent to be used the next time somebody wants land out of the agricultural base for housing development. Is it a reserve for agriculture or a reserve for development?
Sincerely, Denise MacDonald
Concerned citizen/farmer
One question is why good agricultural land in the area of Prairie Valley was designated marginal and then given away untendered to the developer. This land was not used simply because it was never supplied with water. The boundaries of agricultural land in Summerland were established nearly a hundred years ago by the constraints of a gravity water system, marked by the ‘flume line’. Since that time improved technology has been employed to provide water to dry areas such as the Summerland Golf and Country Club. Six acres of my orchard lies above the old flume line. So why not be up front about this issue and say we have good agricultural land which we are not prepared to supply with water ……………..so we are giving it to a private developer?
What is of real concern is the process. The project is being fast-tracked far ahead of the time lines normal for a project of this size. Too much reliance is being put on the opinions of consultants hired by the developer. Many in the agricultural community are concerned that the process will set a precedent to be used the next time somebody wants land out of the agricultural base for housing development. Is it a reserve for agriculture or a reserve for development?
Sincerely, Denise MacDonald
Concerned citizen/farmer
posted by Amie |
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1 Comments:
It is sad that we are getting into an adversarial position between Council and the general public. There is still time - a little - for Council to seriously listen to the voters and to pay attention to the overwhelming results of the surveys conducted by the Association and by Council's own staff. Will they have the courage to admit they are on the wrong track though?
By
tony cooke, at 11:27 a.m.
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