“Marsh no place for ball
Excerpt of the Nanaimo Daily News “Opinion” Editorial dated November 7, 2000:
Something smells fishy and it’s not the Cat Stream.
Nanaimo Minor Baseball is pushing for the development of ball diamonds in the newly acquired Jingle Pot Marsh. The marsh is a nursery for salmon and the Cat Stream is a designated salmon stream.
A special steering committee set up to develop a park plan for the marsh has two members from Nanaimo Minor Baseball, yet turned down a request from the Friends of the Cat Stream for representation. It appears the little group is rather heavily stacked in favour of finding for the ball diamonds.
City parks planner Richard Harding chars the committee and denies any undo weight is coming from Nanaimo Minor Baseball. ‘There are a lot of environment people on this committee,’ Harding said.
People like former city councilor Jack Little who represents the advisory committee on the environment? What is his environmental experience?
Fisheries technician Charles Thirkill is on the committee, but he does not represent any specific group, contrary to statements made by other committee members.
Coun. Terry Beech, who also sits on the advisory committee for the environment, and the parks, recreation and culture commission, put forward a motion which supported giving Friends of the Cat Stream a seat on the commission. It was rejected.
Why? Who knows more about the marsh and the head waters of the Cat Stream than the very people who have made it their business to protect the stream and surrounding area?
Marsh lands need protection from all development or encroachment. That’s true whether we’re talking about Nanaimo or anywhere else. This one should be a no-brainer.”