It’s flu shot time again
Surrey-Delta athletes medal contenders at Pan-Am Games page 32
page 23
Thursday October 20, 2011 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
South Surrey incinerator pitched Campbell Heights regional waste-to-energy facility discussed by council: Bose by Kevin Diakiw and Jeff Nagel 184 Street
A WASTE incinerator for South Surrey has been considered by city council,
36 Avenue 192 Street
184 Street 32 Avenue
36 Avenue
Campbell Heights
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192 Street GOOGLE IMAGE
The idea of locating a waste-to-energy incinerator on a 25-acre parcel of land near 32 Avenue and 192 Street was discussed by Surrey council earlier this year.
which was willing to sell land in north Campbell Heights to a developer interested in building a waste-to-energy facility there. Aquilini Renewable Energy secured an option – which has since lapsed – to purchase 25 acres of city land near 32 Avenue and 196 Street in north Campbell Heights, subject to the site being approved for a regional waste incinerator. Mayoral candidate Ross Buchanan said council approved the concept some time ago, and he’s using it as one of his lead issues in the coming election. Buchanan said he’s pleased to hear the option has lapsed, but he has no doubt it will be back on the table after the election. Coun. Barbara Steele Some Surrey councillors said Tuesday they knew nothing about it, even though they were presented with the particulars in the summer. “We sell property to many people for many things,” said Coun. Barinder Rasode, adding she was unaware of the incinerator plan, although she seems to remember something about the Aquilini sale. “I’m vaguely aware of that,” she said. Coun. Linda Hepner said it’s all news to her.
“We want wasteto-energy in Surrey, there’s no question about that.”
See METRO / Page 5
HST repeal lag impacting home construction jobs Industry outlook darkens as buyers wait for lower tax by Jeff Nagel THE PROVINCE is under pressure to quickly neutralize the impact of the Harmonized Sales Tax on new home buyers in order to save thousands of jobs at risk in the construction industry. The HST is to be eliminated no later than April of 2013, but until then it continues to add seven per cent to the value of new homes over $525,000.
The Urban Development Institute wants the province to immediately exempt all new homes from the provincial tax portion so the HST hit is no longer an issue for prospective home buyers who may delay purchases. “We are very concerned that there’s going to be a significant reduction in jobs for the next year,” executive director Maureen Enser said. See RENOVATIONS / Page 3
LEADER FILE PHOTO
The Urban Development Institute estimates at least 2,000 planned home starts have now been shelved since the HST referendum result and many more are likely.
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