District of Saanich, Clerks Office, Peninsula Agricultural Commission ...

Peninsula Agricultural Commission May 8, 2008
− They do have a business plan and have had discussions with local blueberry farmers. At this
time, he is unable to disclose the entire plan.
− They stated that Brian French, the agrologist, is a co-owner in the project and prepared the
plans for the ALC, but there is no conspiracy.
− The ALC has approved their farm plan and supports the work they are doing.
Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Eraut left the meeting and discussion ensued noting the following points:
� Questioned whether Colquitz Creek could accept additional water run off.
� Interurban Road floods most years.
� Saanich is not doing an integrated storm water management plan.
� The proponents are not farmers – they are in business to make money.
� Trying to make over 100 acres of property certified organic will be costly.
� If the projected yields of over a million pounds of berries hold true, it will saturate the local
market and they will have to export – which increases their carbon footprint and affects
the environment.
� Organic plants have to be hand pruned, and the sawdust needed to mulch over 100 acres
every year will be hard to come by. It is not easy to make a profit from organic farming.
� Local blueberry growers may consider this business a threat, especially when there are
almost 3,000 acres of blueberries on the lower mainland.
� Anyone buying property should use due diligence; this property has been a toilet for years
and to start an organic farm here when there are many other farms available to purchase
raises the question of why this property?
� Regardless of the concerns about organic farming – the main issue is the berming.
� Apparently the ALC has endorsed their farm plan and allowed the dumping of fill.
� However, the agrologist who put the proposal together is a part owner of the business.
� Some members thought we should be glad that someone is going to farm it because
Saanich didn’t take any responsibility for it, or buy it for a natural habitat area. The berm
will protect the farmland.
� Peat bogs are the best for growing root vegetables, why change everything to grow a crop
that doesn’t grow well with too much water?
� Why would investors from Calgary put money into a site that floods and is surrounded by
development?
� Regardless of who is responsible for the drainage issues, what is the overall effect going
to be from developing the property as proposed?
� What will be the effect of diverting the water into the Colquitz?
� Because of the lack of an integrated storm water management plan in Saanich, can PAC
make an informed opinion?
� No one had any objections to the proposal at Beckwith Farm. There is excellent potential.
� However, the Panama flats property is better suited to other crops.
� The owners have a phase 1 and a phase 2 plan: phase 1 is to berm half of the property. If
this doesn’t work – we are left with 70,000 loads of dirt that have to be moved.
� Robert Bridgeman of UVIC is conducting an ecological restoration programme on Colquitz
Creek, which is connected to Blenkinsop Lake. If the Panama Flats property is berm as
proposed, the additional water flowing into the Colquitz will affect the fish habitat.
Summary: PAC’s Land Use Sub-Committee will review the proposal in more detail, but in the
meantime, PAC would suggest that Saanich look into an integrated storm water
management plan for the area around Panama Flats. While the Beckwith Farm
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