Dean Murdock Saanich Councillor

Saanich pressured to ban bird cannons
By Saanich News September 12, 2012

When Canada geese were continually attacking blueberry crops at Beckwith Farm in 2010, the farm launched its bird predation plan – which includes a noise cannon.

“The predator kites and other visual deterrents had no effect on the Canada geese,” said Wayne Hopkins, president of Beckwith Farm. “These geese were landing and eating the leaves. They killed somewhere around 12,000 plants in a matter of a few days. It all happened very quickly, so we had to employ noise devices very quickly.”

Suites study lacks terms, time line
By Natalie North - Saanich News

Saanichites living south of McKenzie Avenue have had a year to legalize their secondary suite – and 30 homeowners have done just that. But residents outside of the selected study area, including those in neighbourhoods already dense with illegal suites, are still not sure when they’ll be able to legalize their suite.

And as it turns out, council doesn’t know either.

Saanich Council is putting the finishing touches on the 2011 budget that focuses on building a stronger, healthier, and safer community. The budget will be presented to Council for adoption the first week of May. Here are some of the highlights:

We’re making mobility our priority. Saanich residents can enjoy more of this great community on foot or on bike with over $2 million in new sidewalks and bike lanes. We’re investing in roads like Tattersal and Admirals – making them into pedestrian-friendly corridors and not the car-centred thoroughfares they’ve become.

Survey says: chickens OK in Saanich backyards
Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it's being welcomed into Saanich with relatively open arms.

The results of the municipality's backyard chicken survey shows that 84 per cent of respondents supported the presence of feathered friends in local yards.

Saanich looking at urban chicken options
Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Feathered fowl could be moving in next door to you – but first, Saanich wants to know what you think about egg-laying chickens in your neighbourhood’s backyards.

Coun. Dean Murdock says the current bylaw – restricting the keeping of chickens on properties smaller than 1,114.8 sq.-metres – is out of date and needs to be updated to be inclusive of the Official Community Plan goals.

SAANICH COUNCILLOR SAYS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT DEER PROBLEM

Sep 20, 2010

A SAANICH COUNCILLOR HAS ADDED HIS VOICE TO LOCAL POLITICIANS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRD'S BURGEONING URBAN DEER POPULATION

OAK BAY'S MAYOR HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO SUGGESTIONS ABOUT DEALING WITH THE DEER AND DEAN MURDOCK AGREES THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SPEAKING ON CFAX 1070 WITH MURRAY LANGDON MONDAY, MURDOCK SAYS THE FIRST STEP IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY DEER ARE OUT THERE IN URBAN AREAS

Saanich approach to affordable housing making homes more costly, homebuilders association says
Kyle Slavin, Saanich News

Saanich’s affordable housing fund actually makes homes less affordable, claims the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

“What’s happening is, rather than creating affordable units, (Saanich is) contributing to a lack of affordable housing in Greater Victoria,” Casey Edge, executive officer of the CHBA’s Victoria branch said. “Every time the cost of housing increases, consumers get knocked out of the market because they can no longer afford to buy.”

For landlords and tenants, back to school housing crunch make for tense relationships

By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Demand is down, but that doesn’t mean the University of Victoria needs fewer dorm rooms on campus.

“If we had another building we would fill it. People like to live on campus because it’s so convenient,” said Kathryn MacLeod, director of residence services at UVic. “I don’t think we’re in the danger of not needing more … It would be great to have more residences.”

At this time last year, there were more than 1,400 people on a waitlist for student housing.

SECONDARY SUITES IN SAANICH ON DISCUSSION TABLE

Jun 16, 2010 CFAX 1070

A PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK ON THE ISSUE OF PERMITTING SECONDARY SUITES SOUTH OF MCKENZIE IN SAANICH. SAANICH COUNCILLOR DEAN MURDOCK SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON THE TABLE, WHICH HE THINKS WILL BE TACKLED AT THE MEETING.

Saanich Council recently adopted the Climate Action Plan. The plan is a blueprint to cut our greenhouse gas emissions in the community by one-third over the next decade. We’ve also set an aggressive target of 50 per cent reduction for all municipal operations during the same time. This week, Council amended the Sustainable Saanich Official Community Plan to enshrine the reduction targets as part of our community growth strategy.