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Workshop takes aim at contentious regional rec.

Regional recreation was once again a topic of discussion and disagreement at the Jan. 13 board meeting

Regional recreation was once again a topic of discussion and disagreement at the Jan. 13 board meeting of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, where directors approved committee terms of reference and funding for a regional recreation workshop.

The board heard a report from John Elzinga, CVRD general manager of community services, who recommended the approval of regional recreation select committee terms of reference and the use of up to $13,300 for contracted services and a regional recreation workshop.

Area G director Mel Dorey had questions regarding the motion.

“I think this has been discussed a lot already and we have lots of information already,” he said. “I was wondering…what sorts of extra things are you going to look at that we haven’t looked at already? Or are you just going to get more current information?”

In response, Elzinga noted that information from a Recreation Facility Use Analysis study was last done in 2011. He also said the committee could examine what other B.C. communities are doing.

Ian Morrison, director for Area F, said he was “very cautious but open-minded about looking at regional recreation again,” although said he felt approving the terms of reference should wait until after the proposed workshop.

Area I director Klaus Kuhn also voted against the recommendations.

“This effort…is the effort by the more central regions to rope in the outlying regions,” he said. “I can’t speak for the rest of the western valley but I know the people in Area I are not interested in getting coerced into a program that forces them to be part of the whole region.”

Ultimately the terms of reference motion narrowly passed with seven votes against it. The workshop motion passed with four directors opposed.