Re: “Esquimalt presents list of sewage questions to CRD,” March 5.
Most of Esquimalt's questions are related to public safety. Esquimalt council is doing its due diligence. The Capital Regional District should have provided this information in the first place.
The report the CRD provided to Esquimalt regarding tsunamis says that it is not to be used for infrastructure planning and that the CRD will not be liable if anyone uses that report for such planning. The CRD knowingly gave Esquimalt a report that cannot be used.
According to provincial guidelines, the six-metre sea wall is not adequate — such long-term infrastructure needs to be 7.2 metres above sea level and 15 metres back from high water. The CRD has not provided adequate information to justify its claims of one metre above and two metres back.
The concern about superbugs is also a public safety issue. The factory at McLoughlin may be a breeding ground for these. Any accident would be significant in our harbour.
Many of the “amenities” cited are normal for a developer when seeking significant variation. Look at the work around the Hillside Mall. The question about the biosolids pipe is attempting to get an answer from the CRD. It has known for five years a pipe is needed. Where will it go? If the pipe is along streets then those streets will be rebuilt and the “million-dollar bike path” is actually normal road rebuilding.
The CRD has known it needed rezoning since 2009, so it is the CRD's fault it brought this request forward at the last minute.
Bryan Gilbert
Victoria
