The Metropolis of Courtenay has introduced hefty fines for a contractor and property administration firm after greater than 100 protected bushes had been broken locally.
The municipality says 107 protected bushes had been both reduce down or broken whereas work was being executed on a property on twentieth Avenue close to Lambert Drive in mid-December.
"The realm is inside a riparian space of the Piercy Creek watershed, and guarded by a covenant which required that it stay in a pure state," stated the town in a press release Tuesday.
Now, each the contractor and property administration firm face fines of $107,000 every – $1,000 for every protected tree – totalling $214,000.
"These are heavy penalties, however the fines are clearly specified by our bylaws," stated Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells in a press release.
"Riparian areas are protected by legislation, and there are severe penalties for many who injury them," he stated.
The town says the tree injury was reported on Dec. 16, at which level the municipality ordered that every one work cease.
Typically, tree slicing permits are required if an space falls beneath an identical covenant or inside an environmentally delicate space, in response to the town.
Municipal staff investigated the work website and decided that adjoining property homeowners weren't concerned within the tree slicing.
The town says it additionally notified Fisheries and Oceans Canada because the tree slicing occurred subsequent to a stream.
The contractor and property administration firm now have 14 days to pay or dispute the fantastic.
Not one of the allegations have been confirmed in courtroom.
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