The QUALICUM Beach Residents Association is hosting an All Candidates Meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd at the Civic Centre starting at 7 pm. After introductory statements and some general questions, it will be opened to written questions from the floor and, if time permits, oral questions. Please let all your friends and neighbours know about this meeting as it is one of the few chances to meet all the candidates and get some idea of their views on civic concerns.

Section Head September 2, 2018
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations
Rural Development
142 – 2080 Labiuex Road
Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9 sent via electronic mail


Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is being sent on behalf of the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association Board of Directors regarding the Disposition of Crown Land File #1414799, the application from the Town of Qualicum Beach.

By unanimous vote, the Board requested this letter to express our strong opposition to the disposition of the Crown Land in question to facilitate proposed works by the Town at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and Highway 19A. It is our understanding the Town request is to enable four components:

1. To repair and/or replace a sewer
   
2. To revamp and improve an estuary to enhance salmon migration
   
3. To establish a buffer (breakwater) to protect beach erosion and storm protection
   
4. To build a roundabout at this 3 way intersection
   

We are in support of the merits of the first three objectives. However, it is our view that the deposition of the subject Crown Land is NOT required to meet those objectives. We oppose this Town application because it is our opinion that this application for your approval is motivated by the Town’s desire to build a roundabout at this intersection. Because this intersection is surrounded by a gas station, resort motel, and ocean, the only way the Town can construct this roundabout is to utilize the Crown Land. We fully appreciate the Town is not intending to build out the roundabout on to Crown Land but the Crown Land is necessary to afford a suitable buffer between the roundabout and ocean.

We would also like to make clear we support the use of roundabouts as a respected method for many, but not all intersections. This intersection is not appropriate for a roundabout. It is an intersection with entry and exit points in close proximity serving the gas station and resort motel. It is an intersection with high pedestrian traffic as it is used for beach access. Add to this mix a relatively high use of cyclists with Town plans to enhance this use by building dedicated cyclist lanes.

There was a pedestrian fatality near this intersection several years ago. In response, the Town installed a pedestrian activated cross walk-signalized light. We believe if the Town determines the need to further improve this intersection, it should be done with traffic lights. This would not require intrusion of Crown Land.
A recent petition was circulated in protest of building the roundabout. To be clear, the 875 signatories were only protesting the roundabout – not the elements to improve Town infrastructure or protect and enhance our environment. We urge you to carefully consider the motivation for the Town’s application request and to reject that request as an unnecessary and undesired use of Crown Land.

Respectfully , Lance R. Nater
President, Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association

Section Head
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations
Rural Development
142 - 2080 Labiuex Rd
Nanaimo, BC
V9T 6J9

Regarding the Disposition of Crown Land File #1414799, application from Town of Qualicum Beach.
​
I wish to oppose this application only in regard to the addition of the proposed roundabout included in this application for this license. 

There is absolutely no requirement for this roundabout at this location. To my knowledge there has never been an accident at this T intersection. 

This is our namesake, our beach area and the proximity to a hotel, limited parking and a gas station make this undertaking of a roundabout a disaster waiting to happen, not-withstanding the history of roundabouts. 

I do not oppose the application for the work required for re-establishment of the estuary and foreshore, sanitary sewer upgrade, bike path and retaining wall that this License is required to carry out the work on the foreshore to re-establish the estuary, enhancement of Beach Creek and increase resiliency to foreshore erosion. 

I went door to door in Eaglecrest here in Qualicum Beach. The residents are not in support of this proposed roundabout. On the whole, in the community I was able to garner 875 signatures that oppose the construction of a roundabout at this location. We suggest that should a license be granted, it should be only for the re-establishment of the estuary and foreshore, sanitary sewer upgrade, bike path and retaining wall. 

I know the residents associations here in the community are also non-supportive of this roundabout. 

Please take this into consideration prior to issuing a license to the Town. 

Respectfully submitted

Joseph E. Dennie
960 Royal Dornoch Drive
Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K 1E1
289 816 2411
Ps: I am copying 137 parties in this community for FYI.

Dear Mr. Mayor and Councillors,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association board of directors. As a result of several lengthy discussions by the directors and fielding many questions from our members and the general public, we have very serious reservations about the logic and cost benefit of the proposed roundabout.

We realize this opinion comes late in the process, long after a grant of $1.4 million was announced. Nevertheless, based on what we know and from the comments we have heard, we cannot support this project as it has been presented. We regard a grant as a redistribution of taxpayer funds and do no believe acquiring a grant should, in itself, justify this or any other project.

It is our view that the proposed redesign of the 19A and Memorial intersection to a roundabout is not an improvement in vehicle or pedestrian movement. The location and entry/exit of the Shell station is a significant obstacle. We do not believe this proposed redesign was suitably explained to the general public. Dave Golson served on the Waterfront working committee and does not recall the roundabout being discussed to any extent. 
I served on the Public Safety Committee and do not recall any discussion about converting the subject intersection to a roundabout.

The QBRA board is not opposed to roundabouts. We are opposed to this proposed application at a three way intersection. This opinion was unanimous among our seven board members.

In reading the Town announcement of the grant, it highlights key improvements that will result. This is a well used pedestrian intersection. Based on our observations with the Rupert/Memorial roundabout, we do not think safety for cyclists or pedestrians would be improved. Many of the other infrastructure,transportation and environmental gains, we believe, could be realized without a roundabout at this site. The underground work necessary could all be accomplished without a roundabout. Traffic calming for the beachfront would be no more effective then the Rupert roundabout where speeds along Memorial are not impaired.

Clearly, the directors of the QBRA board and many members of the general public do not understand what the merits of this roundabout are and by not understanding, they are very much opposed.

We strongly suggest the Town take a step back to justify this roundabout to the general public. Based on our experience, either the Town has failed to make a convincing justification to residents or the design is of very questionable merit. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Lance Nater
                 President, QBRA

A woman was attacked Friday, March 9, 2018, about 8:30pm on Hoylake Road West.
She was walking up Hoylake from Arbutus.  She passed a man at the corner of Arbutus and Hoylake Road West who was smoking a joint.  He followed her and pushed her down to the ground.  She fell to the ground in front of 423 Hoylake Road West.  She screamed and he then tried to cover her mouth,  Then he ran off.
The man is about 5'6" or 5'7" tall.  Dark brown hair.  Also has a mustache.  He was wearing a plaid shirt, puffy vest and jeans.  He spoke with an accent.
If you have any information or do see this man, please contact the RCMP.

Latest FORA Health Update following meeting with Island Health representatives.( Dr Drew Digney, Executive Medical Director NRGH and Shelley Gallant Director OHC). We meet quarterly.

NRGH- Greater use of Operating rooms in winter and less in summer to accommodate seasonal demands of both staff and patients. Electronic record system under government review with our area being the pilot area, not to be expanded elsewhere at this time.

New Government- More focus on mental health, addictions, community services and less on hip and knee surgeries
                            Wait times for Tests      
                                  CT Scan          MRI           Ultrasound
Urgent                           1 day           1 day             2 days   
ASAP                            20 days        18 days          15 days
Semi Urgent                  121 days     118 days          30 days
Routine                         195 days     180 days         155 days    

Oceanside Health Centre- Urgent Care visits still averaging 68/ day. Complex care patients to be seen in 4 hours or less and simple cases in 2 with success rate of 90 and 80% respectively. Financial compensation plan is working well here for the staff.

Primary Care seeing 730 appointments per month using 3 salaried nurse practitioners backed by urgent care doctors only when required. They have 1800 patients with 25 added per month. At this rate their fee equates to that just below the lowest GP fee.The use of NP's province wide is being studied by the government.
The search for primary care doctors is still ongoing with a reviewed pay scale to be put in place with a plan of 3 or 4 eventually expanding services to 7 day week, 12 hour days.

14 Heart patients seen per day via the ECHO programme.
OHC has 2 psychiatrists.

Local health authorities being subdivided to better care for local demands.

No plans for any expansion at OHC.

Telehealth and home care monitoring available now for certain patients with geriatric, psychiatric, ms, heart and copd issues. FORA questioned how these services were advertised to the public and local docs?

End of Life- 6th hospice bed added at Trillium Lodge with 75% occupancy rate and average19 day stay. Now supported 24/7 by RN, LPN and health care
aid at night.

Medically Assisted Deaths(MAiD)- 25 in Oceanside, 355 on VI over 18 months. Only 1 local doctor with patients having to go outside of the area.

Residential Care Beds
- total of 378 in Parksville with 53 assisted living, 3 respite, 6 end of life.
- total of 225 in Qualicum Beach, 30 assisted living.
- total of 848 in Nanaimo, 98 assisted living, 2 respite.
There are no plans for any new beds which take 4 to 5 years to put in place.