TimberWest picks Island spots for development

Jeff Bell, Times Colonist
TimberWest, the Island’s largest private landowner, has identified forest lands where it might seek development.
The areas range from Sooke and the Malahat to Coombs, Mount Washington and Dove Creek.
John Hendry, vice-president of real estate for TimberWest, said the company has about 325,000 hectares of land on the Island and is looking at [...]

CRD wants tree-farm hearing

Regional government is latest to call for airing of subdivision
Times Colonist By Judieth Lavoie
The Capital Regional District has joined the chorus of demands for the provincial approving officer to hold public hearings into Western Forest Products’ application for 319 subdivisions on former tree-farm-licence land around Jordan River, Otter Point and Shirley.
CRD planning manager Bob Lapham [...]

TFL changes threaten environment

Times Colonist Published: Saturday, June 14, 2008
The most important consequence of the B.C. government’s decision to remove lands from tree farm licences will be urban development west of Sooke. When we speak of development, we often forget that its highest expression is a natural ecosystem.
Our coastal forest ecosystems are among the most biologically diverse and [...]

Hearings a must on land rezoning

Times Colonist
The provincial government has already betrayed the public interest and undermined basic principles of sound land-use planning for vast tracts of land between Sooke and Port Renfrew.
It should avoid compounding the damage and order public hearings on Western Forest Product’s bid to create 319 subdivisions along the coast west of Greater Victoria.