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We have time to challenge sewage regulations

Re: “Time is short for sewage plan,” editorial, May 14. The public should be concerned about what the east side and west side sewage treatment planning committees are going to recommend.

Re: “Time is short for sewage plan,” editorial, May 14.

The public should be concerned about what the east side and west side sewage treatment planning committees are going to recommend. The community might come up with great ideas as to what could be done. However, when the tough decisions have to be made, and the Capital Regional District cannot deliver on its suggestions because of funding or other constraints, there will be a very disappointed or even angry community.

I am concerned that the CRD has already spent $69.4 million on planning, including land acquisition. This is a huge project — it will be 10 times the cost of the Blue Bridge project in Victoria with its cost overrun problems.

There is still potential for the CRD to mount a legal challenge to the federal wastewater-systems effluent regulations on the scientific basis of taking a “one size fits all” approach in the regulations. There is a persuasive argument. If the project results in an unaffordable burden on taxpayers (local, provincial and federal) for no benefit to the overall environment (land, marine and global) why build land-based sewage treatment at all? It is not needed.

It would be a great benefit to the taxpayers and the environment if the CRD obtained a waiver from the federal wastewater-systems effluent regulations based on the many studies showing the present practice has a minimal impact on our unique marine environment.

Shaun Peck

Victoria