ARESST on Facebook and Twitter: @
CRD BOARD MEETING, 1:30PM:
CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG:
ARESST ACTION:
- CALWMC MEETS 9 JAN, 9:30AM, CRD BOARD MEETS 9 JAN, 1:30PM (YELLOW T-SHIRT TIME!)
- 2013: A YEAR IN PREVIEW - VICTORIA SEWAGE TREATMENT (ARESST MENTION)
CRD-RELATED SEWAGE NEWS:
- CFAX LISTENERS CHOOSE TOP LOCAL STORY OF 2012 (SEWAGE PLAN)
- PREDICTIONS 2013 - VICTORIA'S EXPERTS LOOK AHEAD (SEWAGE PLANT MENTION)
- SOME SOLUTIONS TAKE A WHILE (SEWAGE MENTION)
LETTERS:
- SEWAGE SYSTEM A DANGER IN BIG EARTHQUAKE (STOP A BAD PLAN MENTION)
- VOTERS' WISHES IGNORED BY ALL GOVERNMENTS (SEWAGE MENTION)
- SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT WON'T ADDRESS CHEMICALS
- POLITICIANS SUCKERED BY MAN IN TURD SUIT
- NEW UTILITY A TAX GRAB BY CITY OF VICTORIA (STORMWATER)
- READER PROVIDES ALTERNATE PROJECT LIST FOR CRD FUNDING
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ARESST ACTION:
ARESST: Come to the CALWMC and CRD Board meetings and bring note-pad to record evidence of committee and board decision-making issues.
CALWMC MEETS 9 JAN, 9:30AM, CRD BOARD MEETS 9 JAN, 1:30PM (YELLOW T-SHIRT TIME!)
CALWMC MEETING, 9:30AM:
AGENDA EXCERPT:
4. Commission Bylaw No. 3851 (CAL 13-01)
- - - - -
AGENDA EXCERPT:
3. REPORT OF THE CHAIR
1. Board Chair’s Inaugural Speech
2. Appointments (Appointments to be distributed at Board meeting)
• That the Board receive the appointments and endorse the nominations and appointments put forward.(NWA)
5. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
5.1 CORE AREA LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – January 9, 2013
1. Commission Bylaw No. 3851
The following recommendation will be considered by the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee on the morning of January 9, 2013.
- That third reading of Bylaw No. 3851, Core Area Wastewater Treatment Commission Bylaw No.1, 2012, be rescinded.
- That Bylaw No. 3851 be amended by changing the word “approve” to “review” in section 10.1(a)(i).
- That Bylaw No. 3851 be read a third time, as amended.
- That Bylaw No. 3851 be adopted, as amended. (NWA)
Also, Minutes of CALWMC meeting of 12 and 19 December included with CRD Board Agenda. Delegation presenters aligned with ARESST included Peck, Ferguson and Atwell (12 December).
Bylaw No. 3851 reflecting amendments, is included in the CRD Board Agenda package, as pages 32-40:
2013: A YEAR IN PREVIEW - VICTORIA SEWAGE TREATMENT (ARESST MENTION)
Staff Writer
Saanich News
January 01, 2013
January 01, 2013
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO SAANICH NEWS
In the first half of 2013, the Capital Regional District will hire an independent commission of experts who will oversee the region’s $783-million secondary sewage treatment project.
The external team includes professionals in the areas of wastewater engineering, business and finance, environmental science, archaeology, community planning and First Nations consultation.
CRD directors have been vying for at least one spot on the commission, but the provincial government is unlikely to budge on this funding stipulation.
The project will go through a planning phase in the next year. Partnerships B.C. will provide advice and expertise as the CRD prepares to accept construction bids for various components, beginning with the wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point. Ground-breaking won’t take place at the site until 2014.
Expect pushback to continue from the Association for Responsible and Environmentally Sustainable Sewage Treatment (ARESST), as well as dissenting CRD directors like Saanich Coun. Vic Derman and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins.
In the first half of 2013, the Capital Regional District will hire an independent commission of experts who will oversee the region’s $783-million secondary sewage treatment project.
The external team includes professionals in the areas of wastewater engineering, business and finance, environmental science, archaeology, community planning and First Nations consultation.
CRD directors have been vying for at least one spot on the commission, but the provincial government is unlikely to budge on this funding stipulation.
The project will go through a planning phase in the next year. Partnerships B.C. will provide advice and expertise as the CRD prepares to accept construction bids for various components, beginning with the wastewater treatment facility at McLoughlin Point. Ground-breaking won’t take place at the site until 2014.
Expect pushback to continue from the Association for Responsible and Environmentally Sustainable Sewage Treatment (ARESST), as well as dissenting CRD directors like Saanich Coun. Vic Derman and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins.
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CRD-RELATED SEWAGE NEWS:
CFAX LISTENERS CHOOSE TOP LOCAL STORY OF 2012 (SEWAGE PLAN)
Kyle Reynolds
CFAX 1070
January 01, 2013
CFAX listeners have spoken and named the top local news stories of 2012.
In an online poll, our sewage treatment plan debate was ranked number one with 20 per cent of the vote. Government committed money to the new treatment plant sparking new resistance to the expensive project.
Malahat barriers followed that story with 14 per cent. The provincial government announced 8 million dollars in funding to install concrete barriers on the notoriously dangerous stretch of highway.
Coming in third, the johnson street rail bridge coming down as crowds watch the most visible progress in the project. That garnered 12 per cent of the vote from respondents.
Some honourable mentions include the speeding motorcyclist hitting 300 kilometers an hour, the ongoing labour unrest, and pipeline politics.
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PREDICTIONS 2013 - VICTORIA'S EXPERTS LOOK AHEAD (SEWAGE PLANT MENTION)
Danielle Pope
Monday Magazine
January 02, 2013
Excerpt:
Jo-Ann Roberts, CBC Radio one
Q. What will be the biggest headlines of 2013?
The debate about the new Blue Bridge will continue, but fewer people will care as the construction goes ahead. The same will happen with the sewage treatment facility.
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SOME SOLUTIONS TAKE A WHILE (SEWAGE MENTION)
Editorial
Victoria News (also in Saanich/Oak Bay/Goldstream Gazette)January 03, 2013
Click here to send letters to VICTORIA NEWS, SAANICH NEWS, OAK BAY NEWS, GOLDSTREAM GAZETTE
Excerpt:
The sewage treatment discussion eased forward, with funding from upper levels of government confirmed and the potential impact on taxpayers revealed. Rather than demonstrating progress, for some residents it reawakened the debate over the environmental need for sewage treatment and worries over potential cost overruns.
The Capital Regional District’s sewage committee laid the groundwork recently for the establishment of an oversight committee to keep things on schedule, but getting shovels in the ground is still a year away.
http://www.saanichnews.com/
http://www.oakbaynews.com/
http://www.vicnews.com/
http://www.goldstreamgazette.
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LETTERS:
ARESST: CRD hasn't yet analysed stability of the Leech River seismic fault that runs East-West just 400 metres south of the proposed sewage plant location at McLoughlin Point, and also very importantly, hasn't looked at the stability of the seismic fault that runs North-South right through entrance of Victoria Harbour - and through which the high-volume, high-pressure raw sewage pipeline would actually transect.
SEWAGE SYSTEM A DANGER IN BIG EARTHQUAKE
TIMES COLONIST
JANUARY 2, 2013
Re: “Small earthquake rattles Greater Victoria area,” Dec. 28.
The news of the recent earthquake near Sidney has prompted various government agencies to again suggest that the population make preparations for the Big One. To this end, the politicians must hurry the construction of the proposed billion-dollar sewage treatment facility so that we will have tanks full of concentrated toxic waste located at the edge of the harbour.
When the tanks are damaged by the earthquake, the stored toxic material can flow into the harbour. As there is minimal flushing action in the harbour compared to the action at our current outfall, the resulting environmental contamination of the harbour should be there for a long time.
And to ensure that a large area is affected, a pipeline is proposed to run through populated areas and across farmland for about 15 kilometres, carrying pressurized toxic waste to the Hartland landfill. The anticipated large earthquake will likely rupture this pipeline, maybe in several places, so that the harbour, residential areas and farmland will all be at risk of major contamination by the concentrated toxic waste.
The facility at the landfill site has not yet been finalized but it is almost certain that if the facility is damaged by the Big One, further major toxic waste contamination will occur. Our current system where the outflow material contains less than two per cent contaminants represents virtually no risk should the inevitable large earthquake occur. Another reason to Stop a Bad Plan.
David Goodenough, P. Eng.
Saanich
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VOTERS' WISHES IGNORED BY ALL GOVERNMENTS
Times Colonist
3 January 2013
Re: “Voters’ interests can’t be ignored,” Dec. 30.
Fair comment. I pretty much agree with the failure of the feds to recognize the public’s concerns and wishes when making policy decisions.
However, you should have included all other forms of government, as well, since the provincial government, Capital Regional District and Greater Victoria municipal governments are equally at fault.
A perfect example is the forcing through of the sewage treatment plans, when a clear majority of scientists and the public are opposed.
Mike Wilkins
Saanich
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SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT WON'T ADDRESS CHEMICALS
Saanich News
January 03, 2013
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO SAANICH NEWS
That term ‘sewage treatment’ covers everything we need to know, doesn’t it? Maybe not.
A lot of what is in sewage can be harmful to marine life if there is enough of it. But here’s the catch: that stuff (like pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones a.k.a. birth control pills) is not removed by the kind of secondary treatment we now have.
The other stuff (like poop) is readily removed out there in Juan de Fuca, at no charge. That has been said a hundred times and it is undoubtedly true.
So why spend money for a system that cannot remove the harmful stuff? Is this rational?
Christina Nichol
Saanich
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POLITICIANS SUCKERED BY MAN IN TURD SUIT
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Saanich News
January 03, 2013
CLICK HERE TO SEND LETTER TO SAANICH NEWS
I am bewildered that the research and knowledge of the brightest of our health, environmental and marine scientists are being ignored by the waste water treatment planning committee.
I am sure Mr. Floatie is giggling hysterically somewhere, having suckered in so many naive politicians. Is it any wonder that Canada has a $26 billion deficit financing useless projects like this.
Ted Cameron
Saanich
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NEW UTILITY A TAX GRAB BY CITY OF VICTORIA (NEW STORMWATER FEE)
Victoria News
January 03, 2013
With the implementation of a new stormwater utility fee (News, Dec. 21), it appears the City of Victoria is getting yet more inventive, and desperate, in ways to pry tax dollars from property owners.
Now the city wants property owners to pay a ‘utility’ fee for having impermeable surfaces on their lots which direct rain water to storm drains. In their initial plans this was to include roofs, paved driveways, concrete walkways, etc.
Now homeowners will pay a ‘standard rate’ based on the footprint of their house. In essence, we are to be charged for having a roof over our heads – most civilized cultures would see a roof as a necessity, not a tax revenue source!
The city opines that statistically, all lots are essentially the same, hence a standard fee will be applied. Not so. Lots differ in size, many have paved driveways or patios, some have no impermeable surfaces at all (except a roof).
Apparently there will be an appeal process for those who feel the fee is onerous.
I plan to appeal, as my lot is very small, there is only gravel and flower beds and no patios or paved driveways which send rainwater to the storm drains.
I also have rain barrels, which appear to be good for some sort of rebate under this new scheme.
What about the worst offenders in this scenario, the large shopping malls and other businesses with vast roofs and parking lots?
Indications are that businesses will see their fees drop (The cost of rain, News, Nov. 7). At least the city is willing to mention the impermeable road surface on their properties.
The city claims it will keep property tax increases to 3.5 per cent. Clearly it plans to increase utility fees as high as possible to make up for any related revenue decrease. Since 2008, my utility bills have increased by an absurd 11 per cent annually, far more than the prevailing inflation rate. This cannot continue unchecked.
Roel Hurkens
Victoria
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READER PROVIDES ALTERNATE PROJECT LIST FOR CRD FUNDING
Victoria/Saanich/Oak Bay News/Goldstream Gazette
January 04, 2013
Re: Capital Regional District’s sewage treatment plans
The $792 million (assuming no major overruns) supposedly available for sewage treatment could instead be spent on many useful things, such as:
– Fund the new Johnson Street Bridge ($93 million)
– Repair the E & N railway line ($25 million) and get a commuter train running from Langford to the new bridge. Another two trains could offer at least twice daily service from Courtenay to Nanaimo, and from Nanaimo to Langford, all timed to connect. (Call that $20 million; maybe revenues would even sustain it.) Better still, electrify it to reduce operating costs and fares ($50 million)
– Widen the Old Island Highway to four lanes, at least from Admirals Road to Helmcken Road, to alleviate the daily massive traffic congestion ($75 million)
– Build a bigger dam so we can end summer water restrictions and reduce the price of tap water so we can garden freely again ($20 million)
– Create a website where citizens can initiate and vote on referenda, perhaps along the lines of American state initiatives or propositions ($10 million)
– Provide a rebate of $20,000 on each new electric car for the first 10,000 cars purchased ($200 million)
– Provide a $10,000 rebate for the next 10,000 “made in B.C.” electric car conversions ($100 million).
Compared to sewage treatment, how much real, serious pollution could be eliminated by such steps and how much irreplaceable fossil fuel would be saved?
The referendum website would reduce the present wide gap between government agendas and the real needs and wishes of the people they supposedly represent.
Craig Carmichael
Esquimalt
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