A group opposing the marine outfall option for the Bowser Sewage Project tried to keep the Regional District of Nanaimo board from proceeding with the zoning amendment readings for a property in Electoral Area H to allow construction of a wastewater treatment facility.
Thomas Gates, who appeared as a delegation at the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday night (June 26) on behalf of the Area H Rate Payers and Residents Association, informed the board that the majority of the people that attended the public information meeting on May 16 overwhelmingly opposed the zoning amendment on Pitt Road property.
The staff report, Gates said, failed to inform the board of the public consultation implications from the May meeting that had 175 people in attendance. There were 93 written submissions that opposed the zoning amendment and there were only two who attended that were in favour of it.
“The numbers show that about 99 per cent (who attended the meeting) are opposed,” said Gates. “What more will it take for directors to listen? The staff report is biased since it recommends the amendment be introduced and read two times despite the overwhelming opposition.”
Gates said they support economic development but the RDN’s rationale, he added “ignores the public’s oppostion and it abandons enviromental and human health protection for economic gain.”
“What is the point of public consultation if the people representing us do not hear us?” Gates asked.
The RDN has applied to rezone a property on Pitt Road, where it plans to build a facility to treat sewage before discharging it into the ocean.
Gates said they feel Area H Director Bill Veenhof has failed to communicate to the board the residents strong opposition to the marine outfall plan that is likely to cause pollution in the Baynes Sound. They want the RDN to explore land disposal. They don’t accept the RDN’s report that there is no suitable land available for the long term.
Gates pointed out that an SFU Ecotoxicology Group found in May high levels of microplastics pollution in the Comox area in Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel between Hornby and Denman islands.
“Given the inability of the proposed SBR (sequencing batch reactor) treatment plant to filter all toxic chemicals and micro-particles, and kill at proposed UV disinfection levels toxigenic pathogens, we urge the RDN board to consider up-to-date land-based disposal and avoid further pollution of the Strait of Georgia since it is not the ethical option,” said Gate. “It flies in the face of the RDN’s ocean plastics initiative… why not make a change because you can?”
The board, without discussing any of the issues raised by Gates, proceeded to introduce the zoning amendment and gave it two readings. A public hearing will now be planned and it will be chaired by Veenhof. Gates and his colleagues were stunned with the board’s decision with one of them heard saying, “Wow.” They left the meeting disappointed with Gates showing the board a Stop Bowser Ocean Sewage placard as he headed towards the door.
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