Politicians from across the capital region should get to vote on whether to pause the region’s sewage treatment megaproject, says the Saanich councillor behind a key vote set for today.
Vic Derman said he’s not pleased that only representatives from the seven municipalities paying into the $783-million sewage project will be allowed to vote on his Capital Regional District board motion to launch an independent review of the plan.
“I’m going to try and challenge that at the start,” Derman said. The vote is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today.
The sewage project affects the entire region’s financial ability to pursue other projects, as well as its overall sustainability and environmental condition, Derman said.
The full 24-member CRD board should be able to vote on such an issue, he said.
CRD rules state that a vote on a service should only be made by board directors from municipalities participating in that service. The CRD sewage project includes Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich.
Derman’s motion calls on the CRD to launch an independent review to gauge the treatment project’s environmental benefits, as well as issue a request for expressions of interest to allow for innovative new ideas.
The current plan calls for construction of a treatment facility at McLoughlin Point and a biosolid sludge centre at Hartland Landfill by 2018.
But the project has been marred by criticism and disagreement over the locations, size and technologies being considered.
Those both for and against Derman’s motion are already set to speak to CRD directors before the vote.
Treatment advocates have released a video showing underwater conditions five kilometres from the Macaulay Point outfall, where screened sewage is discharged into the sea.
The video shows accumulated sediment on the ocean seabed, which James Skwarok said is evidence that the marine environment does not simply disperse the waste but is instead being degraded due to the pollution.
“It’s another reason for us to get on with it and not delay again,” said Skwarok, who represents the Victoria Sewage Treatment Alliance but is best known for dressing up as Mr. Floatie, the pro-treatment mascot.
“We don’t support Vic’s motion. It’s not appropriate to ask for a delay yet again,” he said.
“The CRD has spent seven years consulting the public and coming up with a plan, and it would be irresponsible to throw it away now.”
