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-Your property is between ½ and 2 acres and does not have farm status;

-You grow food for direct human consumption on at least ¼ acre of your property;

-You have a water efficient irrigation system in place;

-You have a separate meter to record irrigation consumption.

For more information, see ‘Green Credits’ on our website at www.peachland.ca or stop in at the District Office or Public Works office for an application form. Application MUST be in no later than 4pm, May 30th, 2013.

Here’s your chance to cut your garbage in half and do your yard a huge favor this gardening season with a new backyard composter.

The Regional Waste Reduction Office is once again offering subsidized Earth Machine backyard composters for $40 (tax included), a big savings from the regular $100 retail price. But you’ll need to pre-order a composter online if you want one. The pre-order sale runs Friday March 1st through Thursday March 28th, with composters ready for pickup in your community in May. Orders can be placed by visiting regionaldistrict.com/compostersale.

“We’re doing a pre-sale again this year to make sure anyone who wants a composter gets one. We’ve found people seem to like this option better than the big one day one location only sales of the past where it’s first come, first serve and then they’re gone,” says Stewart. “Once you place your order, we’ll bring the composters to pre-arranged locations in your community in early May to make it easier for pickup.“

Stewart adds one third to one half of household waste is easily compostable. ‘If you recycle and compost you could be putting as little as one or two grocery bags worth of garbage out for collection a week, far less taxing on our one remaining landfill. And by adding nutrient rich compost to your garden, it’s pay dirt for your soil, greener grass, healthier flowers, more robust fruits and veggies.”

This year’s pre-order sale features a few options. “Backyard composting doesn’t suit everyone, so we’re also offering the Green Cone ’food digester’. If you have no use for finished compost, this unit is low maintenance, take all types of food waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, cooked and uncooked meat, fish, bones and dairy products, and can also handle pet waste. We’ll also have worm bin composters available, which are the perfect model for apartment or condo dwellers.”

For details on the composter sale, to place your order, view your payment options-including this year’s online payment feature, or simply to find out more about which model is best for you, visit regionaldistrict.com/compostersale or call the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250.469.6250.

Speeches by Mayor Keith Fielding and Fire Chief Grant Topham at 3:00 p.m., followed by a cake cutting and opportunities for photo ops and interviews.

All emergency services workers and volunteers as well as the general public have been invited. All are welcome to enjoy the entertainment and hot dogs or hamburgers.

Together we can thank our emergency services works and volunteers.

For more information please contact: Polly Palmer, Corporate Officer ppalmer@peachland.ca 250-767-2647 ext. 105

The purpose of the Annual Report is to provide the public with information on the activities and operations of the District for the previous year. Annual reporting provides opportunities for public access to reporting mechanisms and helps meet the information needs of both local governments and the public by promoting greater understanding of municipal responsibilities and priorities.

Implicit in this principle is that greater accountability will lead to the promotion of better services and continuous improvement in service delivery, as well as improving taxpayer awareness and knowledge of municipal services. We believe that providing citizens with better information makes for better government.

The New Monaco Area Structure Plan won the award for the Rural/Small Town Planning category, which applies to planning initiatives within areas with a population of less than 50,000. This award honours planning projects based on their excellence, innovation, impact on the profession, implementation potential and overall presentation. Evaluation criteria also include commitment to sustainability and the public engagement process. This is not the first planning award for Mark Holland, New Monaco’s Vice-President of Development, who won this award a few years ago for his work in Ladysmith, BC. Mark was also named The British Columbia Institute of Planners’ Planner of the Year for 2010.

According to Holland, the District of Peachland, its Director of Planning Services, Dave Smith and Planning Consultant Jag Dhillon all played a central role in this achievement. “District Staff embraced our desire to create something special and were there to guide and support us throughout the ASP planning process”, said Holland. “We think it was the vision that is driving New Monaco that caught the awards committee’s attention and that vision was built with - and for - the Peachland community. The result is a plan that we are all proud of and we are pleased that professional planners across the country felt that Peachland and New Monaco should be nationally recognized. “

Holland also notes that relationship-building – with the community, the approval agencies and the academic community – was an important element in the award. “I think that we take seriously the need for very broad discussion and long-term relationship building as a key factor for success on this project and in today’s world, this is a critical component of planning excellence” says Holland.

The New Monaco Area Structure Plan was approved by District of Peachland Council in 2011. It includes 2,800 residential units, 150,000 square feet of commercial space, 105,000 square feet of retail space and a 100 room hotel within a sustainable and highly livable community. The early phases of the development will focus on the creation of the commercial core and jobs primarily in the medical, wellness and technology realms.

The CIP received sixty-six submissions for this year’s awards and formal presentation will be made at its Annual Conference held in Banff, Alberta in October.

For more information, please contact:

• Mary Lapointe – New Monaco Community Relations: cell: 250-826-7670 e:mary.lapointe@newmonaco.ca
• Mark Holland – Vice President, Development: cell: 250-713-9789 e: mark.holland@newmonaco.ca

Have you got twenty minutes to spare to make a difference in our community? At 10 a.m. on Wednesday April 4th the Regional Waste Reduction Office challenges you to give just twenty minutes of your time to the Community Twenty Minute Make-Over – a community-wide litter clean-up campaign.

“This is the sixth annual 20 Minute Make Over, the official kick start to Community Clean Up month which runs the entire month of April,” says Waste Reduction Facilitator Rae Stewart. “We’re challenging you to take just 20 minutes of your day on Wednesday April 4th at 10am and do a little spring cleaning in your neighborhood or place of business. Pick up trash, sweep a sidewalk, bust graffiti, tackle an illegal dumpsite, the opportunities to pitch in are endless.”

The Regional Waste Reduction Office provides free garbage bags and gloves for collecting litter and will also arrange to have the garbage-filled bags picked up and taken to the landfill after your clean-up is done. Graffiti busting kits are also available for pick up.

Stewart adds,” It’s a fun event, easy to take part, and anyone can get involved. The 20 minute factor is ideal for business people on a tight schedule, students, neighbors, community groups, and anyone with some extra elbow grease to spare. It’s easy to gather a group together on your coffee break or recess for some fresh air, exercise and a little spring cleaning. And it’s a feel good thing to get involved, knowing you’ll be joining the hundreds of people across our community who are helping make a difference.”

To register your group for garbage bags and gloves, and for pick up of your litter- filled bags when your clean-up is complete, contact the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250.469.6250 or visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle.