March 17, 2013


ARESST on Facebook and Twitter: @stopabadplan  

CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG:

ARESST ACTION:
- ESQUIMALT COUNCIL - DELEGATION ABOUT MCLOUGHLIN POINT, 18 MARCH, 7PM
- SURPRISE : CALWMC REFUSES TITUS PRESENTATION! (NEWCOMB)
Video: "Citizen's Forum" Jack Etkin interviews our Richard Atwell

CRD-RELATED SEWAGE & RELATED NEWS:  
BIG RUSH' ON SEWAGE MEGAPROJECT ANGERS ESQUIMALT MAYOR 
MCLOUGHLIN POINT SEWAGE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD
DESIGN REDO PROPOSED FOR SEWAGE PLANT
DESIGN GUIDELINES TO FORM NEXT COMPONENT OF PROPOSED SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITY
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RELEASED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT MCLOUGHLIN POINT
CRD APPOINTS TED ROBBINS AS GENERAL MANAGER OF INTEGRATED WATER SERVICES
- CFAX POLL: MANY CONCERNED ABOUT SEWAGE PLANT DESIGN

LETTERS: 

CRD SHOULD CONSIDER INNOVATIVE DESIGN PLAN (TITUS PROPOSAL)
- SEND IN YOUR LETTERS!

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ARESST ACTION:

ESQUIMALT COUNCIL - DELEGATION ABOUT MCLOUGHLIN POINT, 18 MARCH, 7PM
 
A G E N D A 
REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL 
Monday, March 18, 2013 
7pm. 
Esquimalt Council Chambers 
 
7.DELEGATION 
 
(1) Carole Witter, Hidden Harbour Marine Centre, Re: Integration of McLoughlin Point into Draft West Bay Neighbourhood Urban Design Guidelines.

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SURPRISE : CALWMC REFUSES TITUS PRESENTATION! (NEWCOMB)


Incredible that the CRD sewage committee would vote and by majority (except Desjardins, Derman, Hamilton) refuse to hear a 3-minute presentation by Titus Infrastructure president Erik Lindquist at their 13 March meeting. Mayor of Esquimalt Barb Desjardins sent Lindquist's proposal to the committee as correspondence and Lindquist submitted his request to speak to that letter. However, chair Blackwell stated that a CRD official, the Fairness Advisor, had told her that allowing Lindquist his 3 minute presentation would just open the floodgates to a ton of other proponents of optional designs for the sewage plant. And what is the problem with spending a few more minutes to hear options??

In the absence of any print media (no Times Colonist or Victoria News reporters present), at least CHEK TV and CTV picked up on what happened and reported this breach of public participation.

However, given that the design of the CRD sewage plant still isn't finalized, seems one more that if this plant goes forward, it may not include the best design, best technology, best site, best performance. Appears that the CRD wants to shut down any public input in order to get their shovels in the ground - rather than appealing for a deadline extension.  Impact of so many CRD alternates from Victoria & Saanich at sewage meeting is "dumbing-down" discussion of sewage plant issues.

My ad-libbed intro criticized the CRD sewage committee for not allowing Lindquist to make his presentation.
ITEM #5A: THE TITUS PROPOSAL: 
WHILE MAYOR DESJARDIN’S LETTER DOES NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE THE TITUS’ COASTAL COMMUNITY DESTINATION CENTRE PROPOSAL, SHE CLEARLY RECOGNIZES THAT A FULL DIALOGUE, MEANINGFUL PUBLIC CONSIDERATION AND EVALUATION OF THE TITUS PROPOSAL IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BOTH ESQUIMALT AND OF THE CRD. MCLOUGHLIN POINT IS JUST TOO IMPORTANT TO ESQUIMALT AND TO VICTORIA TO BE BURIED FOREVER UNDER AN ISOLATED, WINDOW-LESS GREY CONCRETE MEGA-BOX.

THE TITUS BOLD, WHIMSICAL SHIP THEME BUILDING DESIGN,  ITS D.E.S.S. TREATMENT PROCESS AND COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN COULD BE AN ASSET FOR OUR REGION AND A FUNCTIONAL, SUSTAINABLE ATTRACTION. COLWOOD MAYOR HAMILTON’S LETTER ALSO IMPLIES THAT COLWOOD IS SEARCHING FOR VALID OPTIONS BESIDES THE CURRENT CRD SEWAGE PLAN.
I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE CRD CANNOT GET OFF THIS 2018 DEADLINE BUT INSTEAD DEMAND AN EXTENSION SUFFICIENT TO UNDERTAKE AN INDEPENDENT, COMPARATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.

I AM SKEPTICAL THAT THE LEGAL OPINIONS THAT THE CRD HAS RECEIVED TO DATE MAY NOT REFLECT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE INAPPROPRIATE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS,  YOU HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY THAT THE  REASON VICTORIA HAS A 2018 DEADLINE IS A HIGH-RISK SEWAGE RATING. BUT THAT HIGH-RISK RATING HINGES ONLY ON OUR TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS, AND TOTAL BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND BUT THE CRD ITSELF PRESENTED EVIDENCE THAT OUR TSS/TBOD IS WITHIN PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES. 

ITEM #6: ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY:

THANK YOU CRD FOR RELEASING THIS CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY ON THE SEWAGE OUTFALLS, STORMWATER, ETC.

 HOWEVER, I'M CONCERNED THAT WHILE THE OUTFALLS REPORT DEEMS IT NECESSARY TO RESTATE THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT WASTEWATER IN THE OUTFALL IS TOXIC,  SEVERAL UVIC OCEANOGRAPHERS AGREE THAT THE ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THAT BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND TOXICITY IS VIRTUALLY NIL BECAUSE OF THE 200 METER LONG DIFFUSERS AND OCEAN CURRENTS. 

THE CONCLUSION THAT SEDIMENT AND WATER QUALITY EXCEEDENCES CONTINUING UNTIL FURTHER SEWAGE TREATMENT STAGES ARE INSTALLED SEEMS TO MISS THE POINT THAT THESE OCEANOGRAPHERS AND MARINE BIOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN MAKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS: IT’S THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT COUNTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT JUST END-OF-PIPE MEASUREMENTS.

WHILE THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE STORMWATER SITUATION APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT IMPROVED, ITS HARD TO TELL IN COMPARING THE 2007 MAP OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RISKY STORM DRAINAGES FROM THE 2011 MAP. PERHAPS THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS OF WHAT REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH-MEDIUM AND LOW RISK DRAINAGES.  HOWEVER, DR STANWICK IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT STORM DRAINAGE ISSUES THAN OUR SEWAGE OUTFALLS.

TWO RECOMMENDATIONS:
  1. INVESTIGATE THE TITUS COASTAL COMMUNITY DESTINATION CENTRE AND DESS OPPORTUNITY.
  2. CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF OUR SEWAGE AND STORMWATER ALONG WITH END OF PIPE MEASUREMENTS.
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Video clip: "Citizen's Forum with Jack Etkin and Richard Atwell"


Jack Etkin interviews Richard Atwell about the flawed scientific and democratic process that has taken place at the CRD's sewage committee. 18 minutes.


Richard adds background references for his video interview with Jack: 

Here's the background on my statements in the interview I did. On this page:


...find the CRD terms of reference for the SETAC report:


Which says on Page 7:

"D3. Determine if the CRD should implement sewage treatment to manage the discharge of wastewater at Clover and Macaulay points. If so, identify what level of sewage treatment is required and why."

Here is the SETAC report: the same one that Penner cited as evidence to order further treatment:


One Page 92 (labelled 87) it begins:

"To Treat or Not to Treat Sewage: A Risk Management Decision

Determine if the CRD should implement sewage treatment to manage the discharge of wastewater at Clover and Macaulay points. If so, identify what level of sewage treatment is required and why."

Notice that this section is fulfilling the requirements of the terms of reference by using the format of identifying D3 literally:

When you look at Page 104 (labelled 99)...

"Conclusions

To conclude this section on sewage treatment as a risk management decision, the Panel finds the following:

• While there is a tremendous volume of scientific data, the benefits of treatment cannot be described or calculated with any precision. This observation does not mean that the benefits of treatment would be insignificant.
• The costs of treatment are more certain, and they are significant.
• People can reach different conclusions based on their own interpretation of the available evidence; no outcome will please everyone.

• In such circumstances, great deference is due to the expressed will of the electorate. *** BINGO ***

• Senior governments demonstrate a willingness on the part of the Province and the Nation as a whole to support the expense of wastewater treatment in Victoria.
• Residents of the CRD indicated through a referendum 14 years ago that the bene- fits of treatment did not outweigh its considerable costs. Due to changed circumstances, decision-makers should assume that this may no longer be the case."

...you have to ask yourself: can any of those statements be viewed as scientific or even meeting the terms of reference? No.

SETAC couldn't find a scientific reason to support further treatment and concluded that it was up to the people to decide (you need to read the conclusions in entirety to understand their reasoning).

Then, surprise, in 2007 less than 1 year later, the province changes the law to disallow referendums on sewage treatment (generally called liquid waste management plans):

Page 2 (Section 5):


To recap:

1) The CRD paid for a report to ask a scientific panel what to do
2) The panel reports back and says it's up to the public to determine if there are any benefits of further treatment
3) Penner orders treatment WITHOUT a solid scientific basis
4) CRD cancels 5 months of promised SETAC hearings
5) The Province takes away the public's ability to have a referendum: the very thing SETAC recommended.

The SETAC report that the CRD paid $605,000 for back in 2006 didn't even meet the terms of reference but they paid for it anyway.

Richard Atwell posting on ARESST Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ARESST/

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CRD-RELATED SEWAGE & RELATED NEWS:  

ARESST: AGAIN, no mention of the Titus Infrastructure project

'BIG RUSH' ON SEWAGE MEGAPROJECT ANGERS ESQUIMALT MAYOR

ROB SHAW
TIMES COLONIST 
MARCH 16, 2013

Esquimalt’s mayor is surprised and angry at a sudden push for bids on Greater Victoria’s sewage treatment megaproject, fast-tracked by a secret vote this week.

Companies that want to bid on the first phase of the project — a McLoughlin Point treatment plant — are being asked to submit their experience and financial capabilities as part of a request for qualifications issued by the Capital Regional District’s sewage committee after an in-camera vote on Wednesday.

The move caught several politicians off guard because the request for qualifications was supposed to be developed and issued by an independent commission of experts.

“I was very concerned that we were reviewing this document without having our experts do the review first,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, one of a handful of politicians to vote against the move.

“It’s not going to be very long before we have that commission in place. What is the big rush? Why is this being pushed so hard?”

The creation of the seven-person commission — a requirement of the B.C. government’s one-third share of the $783-million sewage treatment project — has been delayed by at least four months due to a fight over whether the CRD would have approval power over tendering documents.

“There’s been delays in getting the commission in place, and because the McLoughlin facility is on the critical path to get the project completed, we went to the committee and the board and recommended moving ahead to get the [request for qualifications] out,” said Jack Hull, interim project director.

The CRD hopes the commission will be operating within weeks, and able to amend and approve the request for qualifications before it closes in May, Hull said.

Three companies are expected to be short-listed to bid by the end of the year, with work beginning in spring 2014, he said.

Construction costs continue to rise, Hull said, and the CRD wants to hire companies before beginning other major Island projects — such as John Hart dam upgrades in Campbell River, the Johnson Street Bridge replacement in Victoria and two new north Island hospitals.

“That’s not a reason to undo the appropriate process,” said Desjardins, who said things are moving too quickly.

The call to companies comes before the CRD has completed its design guidelines for the McLoughlin facility. An early mock-up of the plant, to be located on the harbour, was criticized last month as an eyesore.

Politicians had hoped the tendering process would provide innovative new ideas and technology for treatment.

But neither design nor innovation is part of the request for qualifications, Hull said. That will come during the short-list process later this year.

The McLoughlin contract involves the treatment plant (with a capital cost estimated at $210 million), as well as underwater pipes.

The CRD is expected to issue an request for qualifications for its biosolids facility this fall, to be followed by a contract for upgrades to pipes and pumping stations. The entire project is slated to be completed by 2017-18.

rshaw@timescolonist.com

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/big-rush-on-sewage-megaproject-angers-esquimalt-mayor-1.92806

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ARESST: NO mention of the Titus Infrastructure project

See the RFQ news release: 
Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

MCLOUGHLIN POINT SEWAGE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD

CINDY E. HARNETT
TIMES COLONIST 
MARCH 14, 2013

A request for qualifications has been issued for the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

The document invites interested parties to submit their qualifications to design and construct the wastewater treatment plant. The closing date is May 10.

The Capital Regional District expects to shortlist three proponents by June and will invite them to submit proposals. A preferred proponent is expected to be chosen by the end of the year, with construction to begin by spring 2014.

The CRD says the successful proponent will be required to have a financial stake in the project during construction and for a two-year “performance-proving period” after it goes into service.

The treatment system, budgeted at $783 million, is set to go online in 2018.

The treatment plant will be owned and operated by the CRD. 


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ARESST: notice how article below is void of any mention of the Titus Infrastructure project. Wonder why?

DESIGN REDO PROPOSED FOR SEWAGE PLANT

ROB SHAW
TIMES COLONIST 
MARCH 11, 2013

Regional politicians are considering an image makeover for Greater Victoria’s proposed sewage treatment plant, after being stung by public criticism of a bland concrete mock-up last month.

The Capital Regional District’s sewage committee will vote Wednesday on whether to launch a “Design Ideas Workshop,” and open house, to develop the look of the treatment facility to be built at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt.

“People are saying we want innovation, and [companies] to come forward with new designs,” said committee chairwoman Denise Blackwell.

“I think we want to be as open as we possibly can, but give them some ideas.”

The design process would cost up to $25,000, says a CRD staff report.

The move comes a month after the first artist renderings of the McLoughlin facility were released, showing drab, boxy, concrete structures surrounded by a high concrete retaining wall on an oceanfront property that’s considered the gateway to Victoria’s harbour.

The CRD said the mock-up was only intended to illustrate the potential size of the facility. But it nonetheless prompted scorn from the public and many politicians, who called it an eyesore on one of the region’s most visible properties.

“It really wasn’t a very pretty picture,” Blackwell said. “What’s been proposed is a [design] charrette, and it works quite well.”

The ideas workshop would bring together local designers to brainstorm new visions of the sewage plant, say CRD documents. That would be followed by a public open house.

New design guidelines would be included in the Request for Proposal later this year to solicit bids from companies looking to build the $783-million treatment system, the CRD says.

CRD staff have proposed the workshops run April 11-12, with an open house April 13. Any further delay could push the project off schedule, according to the CRD staff report. The plant construction is set to be complete in 2018.

Esquimalt mayor Barb Desjardins welcomed the design idea, but said her community’s own design panel will have the final say. Esquimalt must approve a CRD redevelopment application to allow the plant at McLoughlin Point.

“This is our process at the end of the day,” she said. “We certainly are interested in receiving any other expertise out there.”

Timing appears to be key, because the CRD intends to pause much of the sewage project in April and May, to avoid getting involved in the May 14 provincial election campaign, Blackwell said.

Also on Wednesday, the CRD sewage committee is to begin selecting its seven-person commission of independent experts, who will take over day-to-day decision-making on the project.

The committee is also expected to discuss a letter from Colwood mayor Carol Hamilton, which says her community is “actively investigating” whether to build its own West Shore sewage plant, due to high costs for her community from the CRD system.

Colwood has wrestled with how to pay its share for the CRD facility this year — $212,000, which equates to a two per cent tax hike — because only 14 per cent of its population is connected to the sewer system.



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ARESST: ALSO notice that this CFAX story is void of any mention of Titus Infrastructure project and that Titus presenter denied his 3 minutes to present at CALWMC on 13 March. 

DESIGN GUIDELINES TO FORM NEXT COMPONENT OF PROPOSED SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITY

James Gardner
CFAX 1070
March 13, 2013 

The CRD's Sewage Committee will move forward with recommendations on design guidelines for Greater Victoria's proposed sewage treatment plant.

Denise Blackwell, chair of the CRD's Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee says they now have a list of possible recommendations and a group will now formed to compile some guidelines.

"Architects, some of the engineers, Esquimalt council, Esquimalt staff will get together to talk about what they want to see on that site.  There was discussion of possibly setting aside some money for a public art component, and make sure all of those pieces are in place so that when people are bidding on the project that they have the basic outlines of the things that we want to see in the project."

Blackwell says a public information session will be held on April 13th.


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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RELEASED TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT MCLOUGHLIN POINT

The Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

The purpose of the RFQ is to invite interested parties to submit their qualifications to design and construct the wastewater treatment plant. In accordance with the terms of the RFQ, a shortlist of three proponents will be invited to participate in the next stage of the competitive selection process, the Request for Proposals. 

The CRD expects to select the three proponents to prepare proposals by the end of June and to choose the preferred proponent by year end to begin construction by the spring of 2014.

Request for Qualifications:

Media Release:

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CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT APPOINTS TED ROBBINS AS GENERAL MANAGER OF INTEGRATED WATER SERVICES

CRD
14 March 2013

Victoria, BC- Robert Lapham, Chief Administrative Officer of the Capital Regional District (CRD), is delighted to announce the appointment of Ted Robbins as General Manager, Integrated Water Services, effective immediately.

"Ted's significant experience and qualifications in water, wastewater engineering and operations, including his almost seven years with the CRD make him the ideal individual to lead the Integrated Water Services team," said Robert Lapham. "His demonstrated record of leadership and ability to create a shared vision, identify new opportunities and motivate staff is invaluable and I am thrilled that he has accepted this critical leadership role."

Ted Robbins began his career with the CRD as a Senior Engineering Technician in 2006, and since that time has taken on progressively more senior positions in the organization. In 2008, he was promoted to Manager, Core Area Operations, Environmental Services and in 2009 he became the Senior Manager, Operations and Local Services, Environmental Services. In 2010, he accepted the position of Senior Manager, Water Management of the newly formed Integrated Water Services Department, where he built new management and operational teams.

Most recently, Ted served in an Acting capacity as General Manager of Integrated Water Services for the last seven months. Ted holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Victoria, as well as a Certified Technician Designation (Civil) from Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia.

The Integrated Water Services (IWS) Department is responsible for the operation, maintenance, infrastructure engineering and capital improvements for the regional water and wastewater systems in the CRD, as well as the water and wastewater systems in the local service areas of the CRD.

http://www.crd.bc.ca/media/2013-03-14-iws-gm.htm

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CFAX POLL: MANY CONCERNED ABOUT SEWAGE PLANT DESIGN


CFAX poll on sewage treatment plant design:

How important is the design of the CRD sewage treatment plant?

Very important 44%
Somewhat important 19%
Not important 35%

http://www.cfax1070.com/

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LETTERS: 

CRD SHOULD CONSIDER INNOVATIVE DESIGN PLAN (TITUS PROPOSAL)

TIMES COLONIST 
MARCH 17, 2013

Re: “Design redo proposed for sewage plant,” March 12.

A letter to the March 13 Capital Regional District sewage committee meeting from Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins attached a brief from a local company proposing an interesting multi-use development that included innovative sewage treatment and resource recovery — but also a whimsical building designed as a cruise ship.

The Titus infrastructure proposal appears to be a serious, credible attempt to bring something much better to McLoughlin Point than just a windowless grey mega-box. 

It is unfortunate that the CRD refused to hear a short presentation by Titus president Erik Lindquist during the public presentation period. The CRD should follow up and enter discussions with Lindquist and others who propose much better developments at the sewage-plant site. 

John Newcomb
Victoria

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/letters/crd-should-consider-innovative-design-plan-1.92240


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- SEND IN YOUR LETTERS:


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