Help Flush the CRD Sewage Treatment Plan Down the Toilet

– Esquimalt residents invited to express opposition to Sewage Treatment Plant plan

The grassroots community-based Sewage Treatment Action Group (STAG) urges all Esquimalt residents to attend this very important public meeting that dramatically affects the future of our community:

CRD Public Engagement on Sewage Treatment in Esquimalt
July 6 and July 8, 2010

3 pm to 8 pm, (Drop-in at your convenience)

Council Chambers, Esquimalt Municipal Hall, 1229 Esquimalt Road

Important Background Information

The centralized sewage treatment facility currently planned to be built in Esquimalt at McLoughlin point, will service the entire Capitol Region.  Sludge will then be transported (trucked?) to another facility.  The plan will add an additional $250-$500 every year to your tax bill, forever!  It is not the best possible plan for the Capitol Region, nor does it provide sufficient flexibility for the future.

Get involved now to minimize the financial impacts to every resident in Esquimalt and the Capitol Region.  Raise your voice to influence the CRD to implement readily available technology for resource recovery, and insist that negative environmental impact is kept to a minimum.

Please attend the open house and let the CRD know what you think. 

Please Consider Communicating the Following Points to the CRD:

• It’s unacceptable and disrespectful to be consulting with residents after the CRD has made its decision.
• Esquimalt was only given 2 information sessions, whereas Saanich East and Oak Bay communities received 11 opportunities of direct consultation to voice their concerns with a Saanich East plant. 
• The CRD has not sought ANY input from the public regarding this new plan for a single centralized treatment facility. 
• Esquimalt residents do not consider the open houses on July 6 and July 8 to constitute adequate consultation.
• The community and experts agree, McLoughlin Point is too small and inflexible for a single centralized liquid plant. 
• Residents want resource recovery that will allow greater long-term cost savings and development of a revenue resource, but the current plan does not support this.
• There is no guarantee that sludge will not be trucked through our community.
• There is no fixed site and plan for biosolids processing so how can Esquimalt residents assess the impacts to our community and engage in mitigation and amenity discussions? 
• This is the wrong plan for the region. 

 This information was prepared by the Sewage Treatment Action Group (STAG).