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Seaterra’s job is to implement plan

Re: “All areas need to be consulted on sewage plan,” Sept, 27. The writer states the Seaterra plan is unacceptable.

Re: “All areas need to be consulted on sewage plan,” Sept, 27.

 The writer states the Seaterra plan is unacceptable. It should be noted that this is not a Seaterra plan — this is a plan developed by the Capital Regional District, approved by the CRD directors and was simply being implemented by the Seaterra Commission, established to implement the construction of a plant approved by the CRD board and the provincial government. The plan went through a great deal of scrutiny and was approved after years of consultation with the public.

 The CRD has consulted for more than 10 years throughout the region on a sewage-treatment plan including referendums, opinion surveys, open houses, community meetings, advisory committees and design charettes. Since the provincial order in 2006 that the core area must treat its sewage, the consultation was further increased and the CRD heard that the most important factor to the public was to find the “least-cost option.”

 Whether the approved plan is ultimately the final plan, it is certainly a cost-effective plan. The selected proponent for the treatment plant came in under budget. It is environmentally responsible; the advanced oxidation that is proposed eliminates pathogens including superbugs and further reduces contaminants of emerging concern. The plan provides for an energy heat loop to Esquimalt centre, heat recovery and use of landfill gas as an energy source to replace natural gas at the Resource Recovery Centre, and 100 per cent of dried biosolids produced at Hartland landfill to be used as a fuel substitute by a successful proponent on Vancouver Island.

Should the approved plan be abandoned, the Seaterra Commission is prepared to implement whichever plan the CRD and the province approve and the taxpayers are willing to pay for.

 Albert Sweetnam

Program director, Seaterra