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News

Floathomes need to hook up or set sail

Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 11:29 AM
By Carmen Weld
Duncan

Maple Bay has fewer floathomes these days, as some owners head to a new slot on the waters of Cowichan Bay.

The district of North Cowichan is insisting the homes in Maple Bay hook up to a sewage system, and some don't like paying for it.

Mayor Jon Lefebure acknowledges what's happening with floathome owners.

“Some of them found the cost of hooking up and the monthly fees they felt were too high, and they could just move to Cowichan Bay where the requirement wasn’t in place, that they be hooked up. But I don’t think, in this day in age that they will be able to avoid the necessity of hooking up eventually.”

Cowichan Bay is regulated by the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

CVRD Planner Ann Kjerulf told SunFM News that floathome owners there will eventually be responsible for hooking up as well.

“Like any other property owner there are costs related to connecting to a sewer system, or having proper liquid waste management. So, that is just going to be part of the equation in terms of legalizing the use and allowing them to remain there.”

The CVRD is scheduling meetings to discuss and set their new bylaws, they want enforced by the end of 2012.

CVRD bylaws would enforce rules already set by B.C.'s Public Health Act and federal regulations in Canada's Shipping Act.

The Cowichan Watershed Board hopes to make the shellfish in Cowichan Bay edible again by 2020 and to do that sewage and pollution in the bay need to be cleaned up.