2241 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

For a while Goldstream Heights had a dilemma regarding access to fire services but that has since been rectified, hence the expansion of the subdivision in recent years. If you go up there you’ll see quite a number of homes under construction.

[Cassidy]

Like any rural area in B.C., there certainly isn't any requirement to have fire fighting services anywhere nearby in order to build a house.

 

Goldstream Heights definitely isn't inside the Malahat Fire Service Area:

https://www.crd.bc.c...at.pdf?sfvrsn=4

 

As noted, B.C. Forest Services will fight fires anywhere in the Province ... but has there been some kind of recent agreement with some other local fire service to service Goldstream Heights? ... Mill Bay, Cobble HIll?

[Victoria Watcher]

tens of thousands of homes in bc have no fire coverage.  it's probably not a huge issue.  the chance of you having a fire in your new home large enough to even call the fire department is less than 1 in 15 in your entire lifetime.

[Cassidy]

Anyway, back to the topic at hand ... modifying the Niagra Main from Goldstream Heights to Goldstream Village would have zero impact on the watershed compared to the ongoing (and very active) Kapoor logging operation between the Sooke and Goldstream Watersheds.

 

Take a look at Google Maps, and you'll see that Kapoor's closest clear-cut is only 1600 metres from the source of every drop of water we drink, the South end of Sooke Lake.

And the Malahat by-pass is something we're measuring in multiple mile.

[Cassidy]

...."miles".

[Mike K.]

Oh yeah, it's pretty silly. 

[Victoria Watcher]

So just to build a locked-gate road from the south end of Goldstream Heights to the highway directly how hard would that be?

[Mike K.]

Pretty easy. Considering the land south of Goldstream Heights is private.

[Victoria Watcher]

maybe that should be the start then. seems simple. but now what percentage of closures have been south that intersection though.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 January 2019 - 05:08 PM.

[Mike K.]

Yes, and according to someone who worked on paving the roads at Goldstream Heights, surveyors have already been hanging out to the south.

[Victoria Watcher]

the detour route need not be something spectacular. just an emergency goat trail that lets those that must get up and down the island through. if the detour constricts traffic and causes an hour delay no big deal. it’s just to eliminate complete closures.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 January 2019 - 05:15 PM.

[Cassidy]

The buzz is that the property owner(s) is/are in the initial stages of a massive sell-off of recently surveyed lots to the South of what would be the "end of the road" currently.

With the old Elkington Forest development in foreclosure, there must be pending efforts to get something going there as well, so there's a lot of land about to go on the market up in that area.

 

If you stay far enough west of Niagara Creek, such that you don't have a massive bridge to build, the end of Goldstream Heights is only a thousand feet or so from the Niagara Mainline.

You would (unfortunately) have to build the road over into the reserve in order to by-pass Niagara Creek, which would cause pain in the CRD.

 

Remembering (as noted above) that this is a by-pass route only (not an alternate Malahat), you could run speed limits of 25-30 clicks an hour, and everybody would arrive safely.

 

Getting folks out at Goldstream Village would be problematic, as that would have to take folks very close (right up against actually) to Japan Gulch, which is definitely on the CRD's "Keep Away" list. Probably for good reason though, as it's where all of our drinking water is treated. I'm sure they could fence both sides of the "dump out" road though, and steer vehicles into the village, upon which time they'd be able to access Langford Parkway, Highway 1A, or Highway 1.

 

It's all not that hard, and probably, if not taken overboard, not all that expensive ... but still, do you really think it will happen?

I don't.

 

 

[Nparker]

...It's all not that hard, and probably, if not taken overboard, not all that expensive ... but still, do you really think it will happen?...

I am sure it will take a couple of years of study. Expect a final report on the project's viability to be released around the end of May 2021.

[phx]

A four lane, divided highway is what's needed.

 

Many people, though, have trouble accepting that the CRD isn't a small town anymore, and may have difficulty seeing the need for better transportation infrastructure.

[Mike K.]

There’s actually a goat trail that already connects Goldstream Heights to the Malahat just north of Aspen Road. If the gate’s open you can drive up there with most vehicles.

So theoretically there’s already a detour from Aspen Road to Mill Bay in place, but it may not be accessible at all times.

[Victoria Watcher]

A four lane, divided highway is what's needed.

Many people, though, have trouble accepting that the CRD isn't a small town anymore, and may have difficulty seeing the need for better transportation infrastructure.

this is true. but really this size of highway is only needed during 10 rush hours Monday thru Friday. seeing as it’s not going to happen in our lifetimes let’s get these goat trains running when we have the rare Malahat closure now.

[Mike K.]

Peruvian goat trains or Chilean goat trains?

[rjag]

this is true. but really this size of highway is only needed during 10 rush hours Monday thru Friday. seeing as it’s not going to happen in our lifetimes let’s get these goat trains running when we have the rare Malahat closure now.

 

 

Its more than that, its the only link in either direction and will very likely not function after a major earthquake for weeks. The City needs a properly functioning highway for more than the commute

[Cats4Hire]

this is true. but really this size of highway is only needed during 10 rush hours Monday thru Friday. seeing as it’s not going to happen in our lifetimes let’s get these goat trains running when we have the rare Malahat closure now.

Bus lanes are only really needed during 10 rush hours Monday through Friday yet that didn't stop anyone from making them 24 hour in bits (despite buses not even running 24 hours)

[tjv]

Because then, like now, the NDP didn't need to commit to large scale capital projects on the Southern Island in order to get votes from the leftys who live here.

Folks who live here will continue to vote NDP until the cows come home, and they won't "stop" voting NDP simply because the Malahat wasn't fixed.

Ok then why did the NDP need to in the highway from Parksville to Campbell River, that's prime guaranteed NDP territory