Water supply, taxes dominate Parksville election forum

“What we know is we did need an additional 2.2 million cubic meters of water for storage eventually, not immediately, but we do need that to provide reliability ahead in the future.”

Beil pointed to a study stating Shelton and Healy lakes, located southwest of Parksville, are potential new water sources for the community.

Mayoral candidate Mike Butler said water supply has been a major concern he constantly hears from citizens.

“Water is a major concern with residents right now, it’s the number one issue actually and so if it’s the number one issue, why hasn’t it been dealt with?”

Butler also expanded on what he called unsustainable property tax increases locally and within the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Several other candidates also expressed concern of ever-rising property tax rates, including the impact it has on Parksville seniors.

City of Parksville property tax hikes have averaged nearly six per cent annually over the last five years.

Joel Grenz, a one-term Parksville council member who’s running for mayor, pointed to the need to make local water supply needs top of mind with a provincial election campaign ongoing.

“I’m going to be calling on them to stand for our water needs when they’re running and going back to Victoria,” Grenz said.

Questions for the mayoral hopefuls involved housing, infrastructure priorities and why they’re running for mayor.

Ten council candidates are hoping to secure one of six seats available on the next Parksville City Council. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

All ten council contenders were on stage fielding questions which included water supply, property taxes, economic development, supporting local businesses and addressing homelessness/affordable housing.

Frank Bailey said continuous growth in Parksville needs to re-examined given their water issues.

“We have a limited supply, we need to put in the proper infrastructure before we put in the growth…we need to protect our rate of growth, we need to slow it down,” the council hopeful said.

Incumbent council member Adam Fras supports controlled growth as a way to mitigate Parksville’s water vulnerabilities.

“What I think we need to be doing is having a growth-to-capacity strategy, so that it connects our development to the infrastructure and resources that we can responsibly provide,” Fras said.

Fellow incumbent councillor Sean Wood challenged the provincial NDP’s handling of its finances.

He pointed to an an existing budget deficit approaching $14 billion, which he said is impacting local funding obligations.

“The people who are up here, are putting their names forward to handle problems that are provincial problems with a province that has no money and isn’t run very well at the moment…that is the situation that we have,” an impassioned Wood said.

Council hopeful Shelly McCullough addressed the need to expand housing options for more vulnerable members of society.

“There is City-owned land that we can possibly use to help share with non profit organizations and other levels of government to create affordable and supportive housing,” McCullough said.

Advance voting opportunities in Parksville are scheduled on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, with general voting day taking place on Saturday, Oct. 17.

There are nearly 13,700 estimated eligible voters in the City of Parksville.

Local voters will also be tasked with electing a pair of trustees to the Qualicum School District.

The general local election taking place province-wide involves municipal/regional governments, island trusts and school boards which govern four-year terms.

The following Saturday, is general voting day for the provincial election after NDP leader David Eby decided not to follow through on the final two years of a four year mandate.

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by Ian Holmes

Water supply, taxes dominate Parksville election forum

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