COMMENT ON OHV INTERIM REPORT

Nova Scotia's Voluntary Planning Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Task Force released its interim report on Feb.12th. There 48 recommendations in attempt to make measures to improve public safety and provide more effective policing for recreational use of OHV's. The report also addresses issues such as land use, environmental concerns, personal liability, and strict enforcement of mandatory registration and vehicle identification for all OHV's. 

The report recommends establishing an OHV infrastructure trust fund that would be used in trail system development and maintenance, training, self-policing and environmental education. It also recommends that fully licensed operators of OHV's be 16 years of age or older. It recommends that no one under the age of 14 operate an OHV and that youths, ages 14 & 15, be required to successfully complete a training course and be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian. 

The task force also met with major OHV associations, environmental organizations, trail users, health and safety interests, enforcement agencies, conservationists and representatives of the insurance industry, plus held 24 public meetings throughout the province. The report is available online at www.gov.ns.ca/vp  or at any Access Nova Scotia Centre. 

The public will have until March 15^th  to provide feedback on the interim report. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to volplan@gov.ns.ca , by fax at 424-0580 or by mail to:

Voluntary Planning, Suite 600, 1690 Hollis St., Halifax, N.S., B3J 3J9. 

For more information on the interim report, contact Voluntary Planning at 424-5682 or toll-free at 1-866-858-5850.

BUILDING MORATORIUM UPDATE

While HRM is in the process of preparing a Regional Plan, it has been granted an amendment to its initial Development Moratorium Order to allow for more opportunity of those subdivision plans that were in the development permit process at the 'tentative' approval stage and any other available land lots that have frontage and access on existing public and private roads. 

In the meantime, before this amended Moratorium Order expires on April 20^th, HRM is given time to adopt interim growth management measures to allow some regulated development in its un-serviced areas as it proceeds along in implementing its master regional planning exercise procedures.

LAKEVIEW SCHOOL EXPANSION ?

Construction and renovations of the Lakeview School is not expected to begin until 2008 but the Community of Porters Lake wants to start the process now. On Feb.11th, the School Advisory Council (SAC) had some presentations and discussions with myself and MLA Bill Dooks about the need to expand the schools amenities. 

There is a great need and demand for a recreational place and space for the greater Porters Lake & Chezzetcook areas. It is hoped to rebuild this school with a bigger gymnasium with showers & locker-rooms, storage area, an auditorium-cafeteria venue for more public events and functions. As well as have more usable library and computer lab space for adult education programs. 

The next meeting to discuss the establishment of an ad-hoc planning committee to pursue this Community-Use School concept is on March 24^th at 7:30 PM.

LAWRENCETOWN AREA SURVEY

The Lawrencetown Community Centre Association has recently distributed a community needs assessment survey to gauge public opinion and solicit input on what types of recreational services and programs are required to better serve the area. Please make the effort to complete and return these surveys. 

EAST PRESTON COMMUNITYSCAPE

Community consultations and a public meeting will be held at the East Preston Recreation Centre on Thursday, March 11^th at 730 PM to solicit opinions and garner input on any ideas to help enhance the environs of the local community. 

For more details call Wayne Adams 488-7656 or Paul Connors 420-8945.  

Sincerely,

Councillor  David  Hendsbee  

# 3288 - # 7 Hwy, Lake Echo, NS, B3E 1C6  

Web-Site: www.hendsbee.ns.ca &  http://www.halifax.ca/ 
E-Mail: david@hendsbee.ns.ca  hendsbd@halifax.ca    

829-2465 (Office)
829-3620 (Fax)
483-0705 (Cell)
490-4050 (Halifax)