No news is good news so far for Lake residents pushing for pool access

A wave of Cowichan Lake area residents demanding equal access to the Cowichan Aquatic Centre in Duncan is starting to grow.

Andrew Leong/file

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The push for Cowichan Lake communities to join the Cowichan Aquatic Centre's funding formula hasn’t sunk, confirmed Lake Cowichan mayor Ross Forrest Monday.

Pool talks are still early in the works and nothing's been set in stone, said Forrest following indications there wasn't enough interest to take the pool issue any further.

"The pool issue is still very much ongoing," Forrest, who recently expressed interest in presenting the issue at a Cowichan Lake Recreation Commission meeting, but was swayed not to until more information is available.

"It wasn't an official motion, it was really just discussion," said Forrest, noting integral area directors, Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls' Ian Morrison and Youbou/Meade Creak's Pat Weaver weren't present.

"We still have a lot of information to come to us," he said. "We haven’t had anything in black and white put in front of as a group."

Meanwhile Lake resident Ted Gamble, who was present during discussions at the recent commission meeting, is anxious to get the ball rolling.

"We realize that few things are as simple as they appear, especially in politics, however, we believe the issue of equal access for all Cowichan Valley residents is not as complicated as it might seem and essential to Lake Cowichan being a  healthy and inclusive community where vibrant middle class families are encouraged to reside," said Gamble in an email to the News Leader Pictorial.

Unfortunately, with politics often come lengthy processes, indicated Area F director Morrison.

"We have to pursue it in proper fashion," said Morrison, who remained tight-lipped about what side of the fence he was on but admitted he's heard keen interest from his constituents to join.

Across the lake in Youbou, however, Weaver, who also indicated talks were too early in the game to comment, noted heard from more folks from her community falling on the cons side, largely due to the tax increases they'd see on their yearly bills.

At this point, no concrete figures have been laid out on what the tax hit to the communities would be, Forrest also indicated.

The Cowichan Lake communities are among the few Cowichan Valley to resist contributing tax dollars to the Duncan pool in exchange for the two-tier payment formula being waived for their residents.