I would like to commend the guest column by Christopher Justice (Citizen, Feb. 5).
I found his opinion to be a direct and factual representation of the financial challenges of local government development. I was told the same thing while working in local government years ago by a then councillor of the District (now City) of Pitt Meadows.
Pitt Meadows was a rapidly growing community with rising costs due to rapid development. She said people thought that more development meant lower taxes, but it did not and this was short-term thinking. Today development must also consider greater risks and costs here in the Valley from flood, landslide and wildfire.
Infrastructure engineered for a 100 year storm, is well past its best before.
Ken Olive
Cowichan Bay
