Re: SEWAGE IN THE CRD: Esquimalt takes an uneasy second look at McLoughlin (Gazette, March 25)
Mayor Desjardins is only telling half of the story. While it is true the CRD did not respect the community of Esquimalt when it selected the Viewfield Road site for a biosolids plant without consulting residents, they did offer Esquimalt a sweet deal for having a plant at McLoughlin Point.
Mayor Desjardins is quoted as saying “From there on, it was all about ‘that’s going to happen, you better accept it and by the way we’re not going to give you any mitigation.’” This is untrue. In the way of mitigation, the CRD offered Esquimalt $20 million in various amenities. Desjardins and her council refused this offer. Then the CRD offered to pay Esquimalt’s share of the capital costs of the treatment plant at McLoughlin Point, which would have meant Esquimalt households would have paid $150 per year for treatment instead of $311.
Furthermore, the CRD agreed to barge all construction materials to McLoughlin Point. These were generous and considerate efforts of the other communities within the CRD to mitigate the disruption to Esquimalt residents from the construction of the plant and the onus of Esquimalt for treating the sewage from much of the CRD.
James Skwarok
Saanich
(Editor’s note: James Skwarok formerly appeared as pro-treatment character, Mr. Floatie)
