DAILY UPDATES OF ACTION & DISCUSSION:
ARESST ACTION
UPCOMING ACTIONS:
- ESQUIMALT ALL-CANDIDATES MEET 7 MAY, 7PM, LEGION HALL
ONGOING ACTIONS:
- BANNER WAVE CALENDAR & ARESST EVENTS CALENDAR
- EASILY SEND EMAILS TO ELECTION CANDIDATES!
- DOWNLOAD STOPABADPLAN ESQUIMALT SLUDGE PLANT FACTSHEET
PAST ACTIONS
- BELLEFONTAINE PRESENTED TO CRD COMMITTEE, 24 APRIL (VIDEO)
- FERRI SPOKE TO CRD COMMITTEE, 24 APRIL (VIDEO)
- PRESENTING AT FIRST MEETING OF NEW CRD SEWAGE COMMISSION 26 APRIL (PHOTO)
- ESQUIMALT PLAZA PETITIONING 27 APRIL (PHOTO)
CRD SEWAGE NEWS
- NDP SAYS IT WOULDN'T FORCE SLUDGE PLANT ON ESQUIMALT IF PARTY WINS GOVERNMENT
- SEWAGE TOP OF AGENDA AT ALL-CANDIDATE EVENTS
LETTERS
- NO TRUTH BEHIND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (Li)
- BIOSOLIDS SITE NOT RIGHT (Ash)
- ENOUGH REASONS EXIST NOT TO BUILD SEWAGE PLANT (Dew-Jones)
- OCEAN ACIDIFICATION NOT HELPED BY SEWAGE PLANT (Bergbusch)
- OCEAN ACIDIFICATION NOT HELPED BY SEWAGE PLANT (Bergbusch)
- SEND IN YOUR LETTERS!
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ARESST ACTION:
UPCOMING ACTIONS:
ESQUIMALT ALL-CANDIDATES MEET 7 MAY, 7PM, LEGION HALL
WATCH FOR CANDIDATES MEETINGS IN YOUR RIDING AND ASK THEM ABOUT THIS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT ISSUE:
- MCLOUGHLIN POINT SEWAGE PLANT,
- VIEWFIELD ROAD SLUDGE PLANT,
- DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE,
- COSTS,
- LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND
- HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT...
- MCLOUGHLIN POINT SEWAGE PLANT,
- VIEWFIELD ROAD SLUDGE PLANT,
- DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE,
- COSTS,
- LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND
- HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT...
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ONGOING ACTIONS:
BANNER WAVE CALENDAR
Watch the Banner Wave Calendar for our posting this week's banner wave locations, times soon
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SIGN PETITION!
ARESST BANNERING EVENTS THIS WEEK
Bring $20 to get your ARESST yellow tshirt!
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SEND YOUR EMAIL EASILY TO SEVERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES!
Please take a moment to find out where the main parties currently stand on the CRD sewage plan, the McLoughlin sewage plant and the Viewfield sewage sludge plant and how you can use your vote to help protect our environment.
If you share our concerns about this bad CRD sewage plan, take action now by getting in touch with the candidates in your riding and asking them to go on record with their own views about the CRD sewage plan, and what they would do about the lack of environmental impact assessment, health impact assessment, poor siting and no idea where the final destination of the digested sewage sludge will really be if they got elected. This will help us hold candidates to account if they win - and if enough of us make our voices heard, we can press parties to take a stronger stance against the CRD's bad sewage plan in the run up to the election on May 14th.
Take action!
1. Email your candidates using this handy website. Just fill in your contact details and your message will be sent to all the candidates in your riding. We’ve prepared a sample letter below to get you started.
2.. Go further. Ask questions at an all-candidates meeting in your riding, or phone your candidates and request a face-to-face meeting.
The upcoming election is a significant opportunity to translate the recent groundswell of public opposition to this bad CRD sewage plan into concrete action to put a stop to its bad plants. Together, we can help shape the important public conversation about CRD's sustainable future that will be had in the coming month, and give our next government a strong mandate to protect CRD's marine, land and social environment now and for the future.
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PAST ACTIONS
BELLEFONTAINE PRESENTED TO CRD COMMITTEE, 24 APRIL
On April 24, 2013 Kim Bellefontaine spoke at the CRD's Planning, Transportation and Protective Services Committee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The committee was considering Esquimalt's Official Community Plan (OCP) and voted 6-4 in favor of the staff recommendation:
"That the Township of Esquimalt be advised that the proposed wastewater treatment plant and marine outfall is consistent with the objectives of the Regional Growth Strategy and that the proposed Official Community Plan amendments maintain consistency with the accepted Regional Context Statement".
Now read this logic that 6 of the 10 Directors present bought hook, line and sinker:
"The site is located within the Regional Urban Containment and Servicing Policy Area (RUCSPA) as is the entire Township of Esquimalt. The RUCSPA includes lands designated in community plans primarily for urban development including industrial and large scale utility designations. The Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) proposes that the majority of future development that requires urban sanitary sewer and water services take place within the RUCSPA. The proposed wastewater treatment plant is a component of the liquid waste treatment system designed to serve the capital region population located within the portion of the Core Area sub-region contained within the RUCSPA. As such, the proposal is considered to be consistent with the RGS."
Analysis:
By totally ignoring the size of the site, the risk from inundation by tsunami, its proximity to DND lands which are not available and ignoring the occupied housing within, CRD staff came to the conclusion that because the site is somewhere within the entire urban containment boundary, it will meet all of the requirements of the Regional Growth Strategy after modifying Esquimalt's OCP and that was good enough for the six Directors at the table who voted in favor.
But here's the kicker: it's the OCP that's under consideration and the CRD simply ignored Esquimalt's OCP and its Regional Context Statement, saying that once ammended it would comply with the RGS.
Smooth!
http://crd.bc.ca/reports/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The committee was considering Esquimalt's Official Community Plan (OCP) and voted 6-4 in favor of the staff recommendation:
"That the Township of Esquimalt be advised that the proposed wastewater treatment plant and marine outfall is consistent with the objectives of the Regional Growth Strategy and that the proposed Official Community Plan amendments maintain consistency with the accepted Regional Context Statement".
Now read this logic that 6 of the 10 Directors present bought hook, line and sinker:
"The site is located within the Regional Urban Containment and Servicing Policy Area (RUCSPA) as is the entire Township of Esquimalt. The RUCSPA includes lands designated in community plans primarily for urban development including industrial and large scale utility designations. The Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) proposes that the majority of future development that requires urban sanitary sewer and water services take place within the RUCSPA. The proposed wastewater treatment plant is a component of the liquid waste treatment system designed to serve the capital region population located within the portion of the Core Area sub-region contained within the RUCSPA. As such, the proposal is considered to be consistent with the RGS."
Analysis:
By totally ignoring the size of the site, the risk from inundation by tsunami, its proximity to DND lands which are not available and ignoring the occupied housing within, CRD staff came to the conclusion that because the site is somewhere within the entire urban containment boundary, it will meet all of the requirements of the Regional Growth Strategy after modifying Esquimalt's OCP and that was good enough for the six Directors at the table who voted in favor.
But here's the kicker: it's the OCP that's under consideration and the CRD simply ignored Esquimalt's OCP and its Regional Context Statement, saying that once ammended it would comply with the RGS.
Smooth!
http://crd.bc.ca/reports/
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FERRI SPOKE TO CRD COMMITTEE, 24 APRIL
April 24, 2013 Fil Ferri spoke at the CRD's Planning, Transportation and Protective Services Committee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Phil explains how the choice of the McLouglin Pt. site fails to meet the capital region's sustainability goals relying on a 1.4ha lot that a peer review panel not only recommended against but provides for only 12 years of sewage treatment capacity.
Agenda:
http://crd.bc.ca/agendas/
Report:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/reports/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Phil explains how the choice of the McLouglin Pt. site fails to meet the capital region's sustainability goals relying on a 1.4ha lot that a peer review panel not only recommended against but provides for only 12 years of sewage treatment capacity.
Agenda:
http://crd.bc.ca/agendas/
Report:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/reports/
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PRESENTING AT FIRST MEETING OF NEW CRD SEWAGE COMMISSION 26 APRIL
Come to a CRD meeting and give them a minute of your views!
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ESQUIMALT PLAZA PETITIONING 27 APRIL (PHOTO)
Participate in petitioning and bannering!
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CRD SEWAGE NEWS
NDP SAYS IT WOULDN'T FORCE SLUDGE PLANT ON ESQUIMALT IF PARTY WINS GOVERNMENT
ROB SHAW
TIMES COLONIST
APRIL 25, 2013
The Capital Regional District has bought a chunk of land on Viewfield Road in Esquimalt as the potential location for a new sewage treatment biosolids facility. Photograph by: DARREN STONE, VICTORIA TIMES COLONIST
Esquimalt won’t be forced to accept a sewage sludge plant if the NDP wins government, the party says.
Carole James, the party’s platform co-chair, said an NDP government would not consider overruling Esquimalt if the township refused to rezone a Viewfield Road property to allow a sewage biosolids facility.
“The answer is no,” James said. “That’s why we’ve said go back and consult again, go back and re-look at the plan, go back and look at what other possibilities might be there.”
Esquimalt residents expressed outrage last month when the Capital Regional District announced it had negotiated in secret to buy the Wilson Foods warehouse site on Viewfield Road for $17 million, as a potential location for the region’s biosolids plant.
The site is near numerous houses as well as schools and small businesses.
For a sludge facility to be built there, Esquimalt council must first rezone the land.
If Esquimalt refuses, the CRD’s only option is to appeal to the B.C. government to override the town.
By signalling its refusal in advance, the NDP has potentially neutered the CRD’s ability to push the project over Esquimalt’s objection.
“I’m very pleased to hear that,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins. “It’s of significant comfort.”
The CRD had originally proposed to treat sewage sludge at Hartland landfill in Saanich. It has said it might still use that location — and sell the Viewfield property — depending on public reaction.
The $783-million CRD sewage plan also calls for a secondary treatment facility at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt.
“It’s pretty clear the public has some very valid questions on the existing plan,” James said.
“Viewfield obviously raised that [concern], but there were questions before that, as well. We believe in sewage treatment but also believe we should take a step back and do a better job of engaging the public on the plan that’s there and look at whether we can find improvements.”
Esquimalt-Royal Roads Liberal candidate Chris Ricketts said he is also opposed to the provincial government overruling Esquimalt’s wishes, but said he doesn’t speak for his party’s position if it wins re-election on May 14.
The latest sewage developments are likely to be closely examined by the newly formed independent sewage commission, which holds its first meeting today.
That commission of technical experts, which was required by the B.C. government as part of its one-third share of the costs, will take over day-to-day decision-making from local politicians.
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SEWAGE TOP OF AGENDA AT ALL-CANDIDATE EVENTS
BILL CLEVERLEY
TIMES COLONIST
APRIL 24, 2013
It took no time at all for the Capital Regional District’s sewage treatment plans to percolate to the top of an Esquimalt-Royal Roads all-candidates meeting agenda Wednesday night.
The second question asked was how candidates planned to get the $783-million sewage treatment project on track.
All four candidates agreed — things have to change.
“The New Democrats believe we have to work with local government to make sure we get the right plant in the right place and that we consult with the public better,” said incumbent NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis.
Read more election coverage HERE
Liberal Chris Ricketts called sewage a galvanizing issue. The main problem is that the CRD did not adequately consult with the public first, he said. The plan is for the wrong site using the wrong technology and the CRD has to be told “we’re not going to take it,” he said. “They’re picking on Esquimalt.”
Green candidate Susan Low said the CRD’s process has been frustrating. Low said she favours a distributed model for treatment to optimize resource recovery.
“What I would certainly be doing is making sure the provincial funding comes with a requirement to optimize land-based treatment. … We absolutely have to have a sewage treatment process that is approved of by the people and bought into by the people.”
Independent candidate Josh Steffler drew applause when he called sewage treatment “a waste of time and a waste of money” that the region can’t afford.
“There’s numerous reports out there that we are treating our sewage. It’s not a dead zone at the sewage outfall. There’s lots of pictures of life that’s thriving there. … We have a public perception problem, not a sewage problem.”
About 100 attended the forum at Colwood’s Church of the Advent.
The night before, in the neighbouring Juan de Fuca riding, about 40 people turned up at Langford’s Isabelle Reader Theatre to hear the three candidates square off. The issue of sewage treatment was also raised.
Incumbent NDP MLA John Horgan said, though he believes sewage treatment is needed, the current project needs a re-think.
“It’s my view that we need to push the reset button on this question. There’s too much misinformation. There’s too much distrust of the process,” Horgan said.
Horgan is being challenged by B.C. Liberal candidate Kerrie Reay, a project manager with Corrections Canada, and Green candidate Carlos Serra, a Sooke councillor and ESL teacher.
Reay said her experience in Sooke, which built its own sewage treatment plant, is that it’s done right.
Serra said he wasn’t familiar with the CRD sewage issue.
Another topic was transportation, with Horgan saying Greater Victoria needs a regional transportation authority and must look at alternatives to buses.
Serra said the Green Party supports mass transit, and that he favours ride-share programs and HOV lanes.
Reay, who commutes daily by bus from Sooke to downtown Victoria, said she understands commuter frustrations.
“I think in partnership with the federal government we need to re-examine the McKenzie overpass,” she said, adding HOV lanes would also help.
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LETTERS
NO TRUTH BEHIND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (Li)
Letters
April 25, 2013
The Capital Regional District knows the truth about wastewater.
Their engineers know the truth. The wastewater management committee knows the truth – but they hope that you don’t know the truth and they’re banking on it.
They are hiding behind a smoke screen of flawed federal legislation and public perception.
They will soon begin to pick the pockets of local taxpayers to the tune of a billion dollars – a billion dollars that could be used to improve our transportation system or address other matters of greater urgency.
Instead, they plan to squander it on an unstudied and unnecessary mega-project that will disrupt the lives of thousands of people and cripple the local tax base.
The CRD has no right to build a sewage bio-solids facility in the backyards of Esquimalt residents.
In fact, they have no right to build it anywhere until they can demonstrate that spending a billion dollars on sewage treatment will be any better for the environment than what we are doing now.
Lingxia Li
Saanich
http://www.vicnews.com/
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Letters
April 25, 2013
The Capital Regional District knows the truth about wastewater.
Their engineers know the truth. The wastewater management committee knows the truth – but they hope that you don’t know the truth and they’re banking on it.
They are hiding behind a smoke screen of flawed federal legislation and public perception.
They will soon begin to pick the pockets of local taxpayers to the tune of a billion dollars – a billion dollars that could be used to improve our transportation system or address other matters of greater urgency.
Instead, they plan to squander it on an unstudied and unnecessary mega-project that will disrupt the lives of thousands of people and cripple the local tax base.
The CRD has no right to build a sewage bio-solids facility in the backyards of Esquimalt residents.
In fact, they have no right to build it anywhere until they can demonstrate that spending a billion dollars on sewage treatment will be any better for the environment than what we are doing now.
Lingxia Li
Saanich
http://www.vicnews.com/
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BIOSOLIDS SITE NOT RIGHT (Ash)
Monday Magazine
24 April 2013
I'm writing in response to the CRD's position on the biosolids site proposed for Viewfield.
It is rather telling that the CRD considers "respect for the community character" as one of the three categories for assessing sludge treatment sites. This speaks to the ignorance of the character of my beautiful neighbourhood of Vic West on the part of those CRD board members who secretly voted for and purchased this site. I would like to invite the CRD (and citizens of the greater Victoria area at large) to come tour our neighbourhood and see the community that is being impacted by this remote decision making process. I believe this is owed to us before pushing through a ridiculous and wholly inappropriate project that will devastate this gem of a community.
Drive along Craigflower Road and then turn down one of the quiet side streets like Raynor, Belton, or Pine. Take a walk or bike ride along the waterway from Dockside Green, past the Selkirk Trestle and onto Banfield Park — last year home to the very first Gorge swim-fest. Stop by the artists' cafe and French bakery across the street.
See some of the beautiful historic homes in the vicinity of Edward and Mary Street. Come see the best dog walking park and one of the most beautiful spots in the region: Macaulay Point. Look at what you risk devastating and relegating to the slums before making these decisions that impact us, and potentially you, by removing beautiful, central, residential real estate from the pool of extremely scarce and expensive land.
I implore the rest of Victoria and city council to please recognize that the proposed Viewfield site is in the middle of a very residential area and to show the common decency to recognize that this is inappropriate. I would do the same for you.
Walter Ash,
Victoria
ENOUGH REASONS EXIST NOT TO BUILD SEWAGE PLANT (Dew-Jones)
Victoria News
April 26, 2013
I list seven reasons, any one of which should be enough to discredit the idea that Victoria needs a land-based sewage treatment plant.
• A 1984 Royal Commission, examining this exact issue, stated that comparing treatment with long outfalls the latter “could be environmentally preferable where conditions were suitable.” Our conditions are ideal.
• A motion put before the U.S. Congress to require all sea discharges to have secondary treatment was defeated in light of evidence to the contrary.
• Those who know best are the medical health officers, the biologists and oceanographers who have been monitoring the outfalls for a generation. Not one believes we should be building such a plant.
• The environment minister’s order to build a plant followed immediately after a report by a U.S. firm that had been retained by the Capital Regional District, but the report conclusions did not specifically recommend such a plant be built.
• A glance at a map shows all the waste from Greater Vancouver flowing out under Lions Gate Bridge or into the Fraser River, joined by the even greater flow from Everett and Greater Seattle and then past our front door, the relative impact of which is patently negligible.
• The impact of our sewage is negligible but the environmental health and safety impact of building and operating the plant would be substantial. Pollution has been ignored; fuel use has been ignored.
• We would rob other needs of upwards of a billion dollars. That alone would be an unforgivable step backwards.
I have been involved in this issue for half my life and it is patent that most politicians do not have the educational background to form sensible judgments on the issue.
Ted Dew-Jones
Victoria
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OCEAN ACIDIFICATION NOT HELPED BY SEWAGE PLANT (Bergbusch)
Victoria News
April 25, 2013
The movie Revolution makes the point that acidification of the oceans is the greatest environmental threat our planet faces.
That should give pause to those who are promoting land-based secondary sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District.
The construction and operation of a such a system will increase CO2 emissions, thereby adding to ocean acidification. The existing natural system, which fertilizes the Strait of Juan de Fuca is, at worst, benign and at best, beneficial.
We need a revolution in this town to end the fantasy that land-based secondary treatment will improve the local environment.
John Bergbusch
Esquimalt
http://www.vicnews.com/opinion/letters/204691411.html
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April 25, 2013
The movie Revolution makes the point that acidification of the oceans is the greatest environmental threat our planet faces.
That should give pause to those who are promoting land-based secondary sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District.
The construction and operation of a such a system will increase CO2 emissions, thereby adding to ocean acidification. The existing natural system, which fertilizes the Strait of Juan de Fuca is, at worst, benign and at best, beneficial.
We need a revolution in this town to end the fantasy that land-based secondary treatment will improve the local environment.
John Bergbusch
Esquimalt
http://www.vicnews.com/opinion/letters/204691411.html
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- SEND IN YOUR LETTERS!
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