UPCOMING ACTIONS:
- 10 APRIL: CRD BOARD MEETS April 10, 1:30PM
- 13 APRIL: CRD'S MCLOUGHLIN POINT DESIGN IDEAS OPEN HOUSE
- 16 APRIL: VIC WEST COMMUNITY ASSOC. SEWAGE SLUDGE PLANT FORUM
ONGOING ACTIONS:
- SIGN PETITION!
- ARESST BANNERING EVENTS THIS WEEK
- SLUDGE PLANT CHANT- 2!
- NEW - WINDOW MINI-POSTER FOR YOUR CAR, HOME, SHOP, OFFICE WINDOW!
PAST ACTIONS
- PETITIONING AT ESQUIMALT PLAZA 6 APRIL
- ESQUIMALT TOWN HALL MEETING FRIDAY, 5 APRIL
CRD SEWAGE NEWS
- EDITORIAL: BUREAUCRATS GET ROUGH TREATMENT (SEWAGE PLANT MENTION)
- ESQUIMALT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS RELEASE: PROPOSED CRD SEWAGE BIOSOLIDS PLANT
- SEWAGE PLAN MEANS CAPITAL REGION DISTRICT TAXES WILL INCREASE 4.2 PER CENT THIS YEAR
- SEWAGE PLANT TAX "GRADUATED GROWTH" FOR CRD - TABLE
- CLEAR MESSAGE FOR SEWAGE (NOT REALLY!)
- GREATER VICTORIA SEWAGE COMMISSION UNVEILED
- APRIL FOOL JOKE ON ESQUIMALT - CRD'S SEWAGE SHAM-PLAN
STRATEGY?
LOCAL ELECTION NEWS
Susan Low - Taste for Change fundraiser 10 April
LETTERS
- MANY LETTERS!
- MANY LETTERS!
- SEND IN YOUR LETTERS!
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ARESST ACTION:
UPCOMING ACTIONS:
7 APRIL: (TONIGHT!): PETITIONING IN NEIGHBOURHOODS NEAR PROPOSED SEWAGE SLUDGE PLANT SITE
We had an excellent response at our petition signing today at Esquimalt Plaza – many, many people signed petitions, both opposing the overall plan and the use of the Viewfield site as a Sludge processing plant.
We want to continue to offer people in the area the opportunity to sign the petitions.
We are going to meet at 6pm in front of Wilson’s Foods (the Viewfield Site) tonight and go door to door in the area canvassing for signatures.
Please come out and help us in this endeavor if you are able.
We’ll have copies of both petitions (bring your own clipboard, if you have one.
We will have area maps for street assignments.
Lets keep the momentum going!
Go to our stopabadplan website and sign petition: http://stopabadplan.
Will be continuing weekly street bannering by ARESST members in various parts of the region. Our focus is now on Esquimalt and Vic West neighbourhoods.
Lets keep the momentum going!
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10 APRIL: CRD BOARD MEETS April 10, 1:30PM
(after CRD Hospital Board meets at 1:30pm),
6.5 Temporary Borrowing Bylaw for Capital Financing (Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program)
• That Bylaw No. 3888 “Temporary Loan (Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program) Bylaw No. 1, 2013” be introduced and read a first time and second time.
That Bylaw No. 3888 be read a third time.
That Bylaw No. 3888 be adopted.
http://www.crd.bc.ca/agendas/capitalregionaldistr_/2013_/20130410webagendaopt/20130410webagendaopt.pdf
The $100 million loan below just got authorized recently without referendum because now, sewage plants don't need referendums!
CRD Board Special Meeting Minutes
March 27, 2013
3.3 CORE AREA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROGRAM LOAN AUTHORIZATION
In response to questions, staff clarified the type of costs to be covered by the bylaw per the budget information, the process for adopting the bylaw and the timing of funding to be received from senior government partners. During discussion, some Directors felt the bylaw should be delayed until after the provincial election, and at a time when the proponents could assume more of the financial risk.
MOVED by Director Blackwell, SECONDED by Director Brice,
That Bylaw No. 3887, cited as "Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1, 2013” be introduced and read a first and second time.
CARRIED
OPPOSED: Cullington, Derman, Desjardins, Gramigna, Helps, Hill, Mendum
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13 APRIL: CRD'S MCLOUGHLIN POINT DESIGN IDEAS OPEN HOUSE
Tell the designers that best idea is NOT putting the proposed sewage plant at McLoughlin Point, with better options being NO land-based sewage plant, a complete multi-development facility such as the Titus Option, or moving the sewage plant up to Hartland landfill site where it can be near its sewage sludge processing plant.
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16 APRIL: VIC WEST COMMUNITY ASSOC. SEWAGE SLUDGE PLANT FORUM
Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 pm
Victoria West Community Centre,
521 Craigflower Road at Pine Road.
Purposes of Forum:
Provide education on the process to decide on a location for the STP;
Provide education about the STP (i.e. what is does; what it looks like; local impacts; risks; etc.);
Determine consensus regarding locating the sludge plant on Viewfield Road;
Determine actions/next steps
Everyone is welcome.
Get news on this at VWCA Face Book site:
https://www.facebook.com/VicWestCA?fref=ts
Victoria West Community Centre,
521 Craigflower Road at Pine Road.
Purposes of Forum:
Provide education on the process to decide on a location for the STP;
Provide education about the STP (i.e. what is does; what it looks like; local impacts; risks; etc.);
Determine consensus regarding locating the sludge plant on Viewfield Road;
Determine actions/next steps
Everyone is welcome.
Get news on this at VWCA Face Book site:
https://www.facebook.com/VicWestCA?fref=ts
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ONGOING ACTIONS:
SIGN PETITION!
ARESST BANNERING EVENTS THIS WEEK
Bring $20 to get your ARESST yellow tshirt!
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NEW - WINDOW MINI-POSTER FOR YOUR CAR, HOME, SHOP, OFFICE WINDOW
Just open jpg below, adjust for printing horizontally, and print!
- Tape in your car, home, office, shop window!
- Or affix to fenders, paniers, carts, back-packs, brief-cases, lunchpails!
- Tape onto your toilet tank for guests to marvel at!
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PAST ACTIONS
PETITIONING AT ESQUIMALT PLAZA 6 APRIL
Successful petition effort at Esquimalt Plaza with lots of signatures!
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ESQUIMALT TOWN HALL MEETING FRIDAY, 5 APRIL
Incredible CFAX forum at the Hall, packed with overflow outside. Bannering/petitioning before, great questions and comments made.
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CRD SEWAGE NEWS
Karen, Carole and Kim at Stephen Andrew's 5pm short news clip about this morning's Esquimalt forum: "Standing room only at C-FAX radio forum on sewage":
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EDITORIAL: BUREAUCRATS GET ROUGH TREATMENT (SEWAGE PLANT MENTION)
Excerpt:
"When a government-related issue becomes controversial — the proposed new sewage plant, the ethnic-outreach scandal and the contaminated-soil problem spring to mind — a frequent response is to blame the bureaucrats, so much so that “bureaucrat” has become a label of scorn."
SNIP, SNIP
GO TO LINK FOR REST:
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ESQUIMALT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS RELEASE: PROPOSED CRD SEWAGE BIOSOLIDS PLANT
Apr 2, 2013
By ecc
News
No Comments Yet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Esquimalt BC:
In the aftermath of the recent announcement by the Capital Regional District (CRD) in regard to a potential biosolids sewage processing plant on Viewfield Road in Esquimalt BC, the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce has taken the necessary steps to consult with our rapidly growing membership.
Apr 2, 2013
By ecc
News
No Comments Yet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Esquimalt BC:
In the aftermath of the recent announcement by the Capital Regional District (CRD) in regard to a potential biosolids sewage processing plant on Viewfield Road in Esquimalt BC, the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce has taken the necessary steps to consult with our rapidly growing membership.
The feedback we have encountered is substantial in volume and equally impressive in quality and indicates to us the members of our Chamber have great concerns for the viability of this project and the long term consequences of having such a plant in the heart of a light industrial area.
We have heard from prominent members who are seeking legal recourse. We heard from one business owner who has already lost two business deals on the day of the announcement. We continue to hear from neighbouring businesses with genuine concerns about the imminent devaluation of their recently acquired properties. We have also heard from business owners in the adjoining communities of Vic West and View Royal who are questioning the location of this proposed project and the resulting increase in traffic.
The chamber does not understand the logic of eliminating a warehousing property that could easily accommodate future needs of shipbuilding subcontractors. We are not blessed with an abundance of industrial property in Esquimalt and in fact have very limited availability.
The perception of many of our chamber members is that Esquimalt has become the “location of least resistance” and thus a convenient scapegoat for the CRD sewage committee. There needs to be a serious reconsideration of this entire project and in particular the potential location of the biosolids plant.
Last year at our Annual General Meeting in November it was forecast the entire sewage issue would become a prominent provincial election issue. It is the intention of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce to take a leadership role on this matter and continue to represent the current membership and any other businesses in the area that may wish to join us. We will facilitate further discussion around this entire project by holding a special meeting to be led by prominent community leaders.
The intent of the meeting is to ensure the concerns and interests of businesses impacted especially in the Viewfield Road area are well understood and if possible, the CRD explains their rationale for the selection of this location and how they plan to mitigate the business impacts that have already commenced. .
Please email the chamber to add your comments or concerns on this important issueadmin@
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SEWAGE PLAN MEANS CAPITAL REGION DISTRICT TAXES WILL INCREASE 4.2 PER CENT THIS YEAR
BILL CLEVERLEY
TIMES COLONIST
APRIL 1, 2013
Capital Regional District taxes will increase about 4.2 per cent this year, but just how much you will pay depends on where you live.
The main reasons for the budget increase are the cost of sewage treatment (known as the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program), a $600,000 grant in aid to the Island Corridor Foundation for repairs to the E&N Rail line, a $2 increase in the per household parkland acquisition levy as well as the implementation of a regional deer management plan.
Depending on the municipality, the costs for sewage treatment — expected to be online by 2018 — will be collected through taxes, user fees or a combination of both.
In some areas, such as Sidney and Central Saanich, CRD property taxes will actually decrease due to retirement of debt. Other areas, including Colwood and Esquimalt, can expect a jump.
snip snip table of each municipal tax change. If interested:
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CLEAR MESSAGE FOR SEWAGE (NOT REALLY!)
Times Colonist
2 April, 2013
[second story of On The Street column]
The Capital Regional District has issued a request for proposals for a company to supply communications services and issues-management advice on the controversial wastewater treatment program.
“The program is the largest capital project ever undertaken by the CRD and has generated significant public interest,” the request for proposal states. “The CRD is committed to ensuring targeted and timely communications to the stakeholders and the public.” A strategic communications plan will be developed by the successful applicant. The request closes at 2 p.m. April 10.
Plans for a sewage treatment plant on McLoughlin Point and a sewage sludge plant on Viewfield Road, both in Esquimalt, have drawn sharp criticism. The CRD has also issued a tender for contractors to conduct an underwater drilling investigation to support the treatment plant. It closes April 18.
The plan is to carry out technical work to provide information toward installation of a future submarine pipeline crossing from the McLoughlin Point plant to Ogden Point.
http://www.timescolonist.com/b
2 April, 2013
[second story of On The Street column]
The Capital Regional District has issued a request for proposals for a company to supply communications services and issues-management advice on the controversial wastewater treatment program.
“The program is the largest capital project ever undertaken by the CRD and has generated significant public interest,” the request for proposal states. “The CRD is committed to ensuring targeted and timely communications to the stakeholders and the public.” A strategic communications plan will be developed by the successful applicant. The request closes at 2 p.m. April 10.
Plans for a sewage treatment plant on McLoughlin Point and a sewage sludge plant on Viewfield Road, both in Esquimalt, have drawn sharp criticism. The CRD has also issued a tender for contractors to conduct an underwater drilling investigation to support the treatment plant. It closes April 18.
The plan is to carry out technical work to provide information toward installation of a future submarine pipeline crossing from the McLoughlin Point plant to Ogden Point.
http://www.timescolonist.com/b
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ARESST: These members will get $750 per diem, but commission chair, vice-chair, members all get thousands of dollars in annual retainer compensation besides that. CRD Board 13 Feb minutes (bottom of page 2):
GREATER VICTORIA SEWAGE COMMISSION UNVEILED
Daniel Palmer
Victoria News
April 03, 2013 4:07 PM
The Capital Regional District unveiled the seven commission members who will oversee its $783 million secondary sewage treatment project last week.
The core area wastewater treatment commission members are responsible for the day-to-day decision-making of the project, while CRD directors will retain overall responsibility for the budget, acquisition of property and rezoning.
In a press release, the CRD named the seven members as:
- Brenda Eaton, chair, former deputy minister to the Premier of B.C. and former chief financial officer and VP of operations at the Capital Health Region.
- Fred Cummings, a professional engineer with executive experience at TransLink and current director for the Evergreen Line project in the Lower Mainland.
- Pam Elardo, director with the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment Division.
- Larry Hughes, a corporate lawyer and VP of finance and chief financial officer with West Fraser Timber.
- Ivan Ing, a financial expert with Rocklynn Capital and currently on the Edmonton Light Rapid Transit governance board.
- Hew McConnell, president, Consensus Infrastructure Solutions. McConnell oversaw Greater Vancouver's sewerage and drainage utility, including capital upgrading for wastewater treatment in a similar scale to the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program.
- Colin Earl Smith, an engineer and former chief financial officer of the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion project.
The core area includes the municipalities of Colwood, Esquimalt, Langford, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria and View Royal.
All of the program facilities, which include a wastewater treatment plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt and a biosolids energy plant at a yet-to-be-determined location, are expected to be in operation by the spring of 2018.
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APRIL FOOL JOKE ON ESQUIMALT - CRD'S SEWAGE SHAM-PLAN STRATEGY?
Susan Low - Taste for Change fundraiser 10 April
John Bergbusch invites your participation:
The recent, surprising (and welcome) Titus proposal for McLouglin sewage plant, followed quickly by the even-more recent surprise (and unwelcome) news revealing the Viewfield Road purchase for a sewage sludge plant in Esquimalt may actually be linked, with the CRD's Viewfield Road site purchase as the response in an elaborate sham-plan strategy to promote a quick, positive response by Esquimalt Council to get the McLoughlin sewage plant site rezoned for the CRD's sewage treatment plant.
A Secret Sham-Plan Strategy?
The vital concern right now for the CRD Board and for their growing team of highly-paid sewage planners is to get Esquimalt Council to approve the McLoughlin site rezoning, but the Titus option was a problem for a quick approval. What Esquimalt Councillor could support the CRD's dead loss "grey-box" McLoughlin sewage plant proposal over the more-engaging, colourful, economically-powerful (for Esquimalt) multi-purpose Titus development?
But CRD sewage planners had a response - threaten Esquimalt with a noxious sewage sludge processing plant complex if Esquimalt doesn't ignore the Titus option and to instead, approve the McLoughlin rezoning. No options, no delays. No changes in the Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP).
CRD sewage planners found the Wilson Foods property, and got immediate approval to commit $17 million to buy it. Thus, the CRD sewage planners have been able to present the Viewfield site to the CRD Board as a realistic and preferred option to a Hartland Sewage Sludge Processing Plant Complex (SSPPC). This is in spite of needing to change the LWMP to shift the SSPPC from Hartland to Esquimalt. No comments yet from the provincial Ministry of Environment, perhaps because they know its a sham plan and doubtful that the CRD will actually seek to amend the LWMP.
So the CRD sewage planners may have no intention of actually putting an SSPPC at Viewfield, but rather use it as a "sludge-hammer" threat to confront Esquimalt's resistance to a McLoughlin Point sewage plant site. CRD may welcome our rallies, letters, parades and anger - because the CRD sewage planners know it will put pressure on Esquimalt Council to cave into the CRD's McLoughlin grey-box rezoning plan.
Of course, Esquimalt Council needs to challenge the SSPPC sham plan, and instead demand that the CRD publicly present a new option for consideration - moving the McLoughlin sewage plant and its SSPPC itself up to Hartland!
The Hartland landfill site has much more space to accommodate both the currently-approved Hartland SSPPC and the sewage plant itself, as well as existing LWMP approval for the two pipes connecting McLoughlin to Hartland. So why not just pipe the sewage right up to Hartland for both treatment and sewage sludge processing.
If the CRD was going to request provincial amendment of the LWMP to dump an SSPPC on Esquimalt, it can surely request an LWMP amendment to move the whole combined sewage plant plus SSPPC up to Hartland.
Therefore, a reasonable response by Esquimalt residents and council is to challenge the CRD's strategy to beat you into submission over the McLouglin Point sewage plant rezoning and instead, turn the tables by demanding that if the CRD doesn't address Esquimalt concerns (just one example is the Titus option), that the the sewage sludge plant stay at Hartland and that the McLoughlin sewage plant shift to Hartland.
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LOCAL ELECTION NEWS
You are cordially invited to a fund raiser, A TASTE FOR CHANGE, for Susan Low, Green Party candidate in Esquimalt-Royal Roads. The event takes place on April 10th at 6:45 pm at the Kinsman Field House in Colwood.
I am supporting Susan Low of the Green Party because she is the only candidate in the lower island who has taken an appropriate and consistent position on the issue of sewage treatment for Greater Victoria.
Even if you do not live in the constituency of Esquimalt - Royal Roads, she is worth supporting for that reason alone.
Please invite your friends to attend with you. For tickets, you can buy on line or contact me.
If you are not interested in attending the event, but would like to make a contribution to Susan's campaign,
I will be happy to help you make the contribution. The usual formula for Income Tax deductions applies.
Thank you.
Please invite your friends to attend with you. For tickets, you can buy on line or contact me.
If you are not interested in attending the event, but would like to make a contribution to Susan's campaign,
I will be happy to help you make the contribution. The usual formula for Income Tax deductions applies.
Thank you.
Hope to see you on the 10th.
John Bergbusch
John Bergbusch
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Local political candidates with concern about CRD sewage plant and sewage sludge plant issue are welcome to send us notices of their upcoming events.
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LETTERS
Too many decisions made for political reasons
Biosolids decision didn’t consider social criteria
Treaty negotiations tie up DND lands
Hiring PR firm won’t do the trick:
‘Unused’ Esquimalt lands are well-used (Blaiseckie):
No consultation on site for biosolids plant (Witter):
Pseudo-democratic CRD has no legitimacy (Burton-Krahn):
From Times Colonist plea for understanding about its letters policy:
"Big issues, like the Capital Regional District’s recent proposal to build a sewage biosolids plant in the heart of Esquimalt, generate a lot of letters."
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SEND IN YOUR LETTERS:
Click here to send letters to
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