In her Sept. 25 letter, Judy Brownoff states that an extension of time is a luxury that cannot be afforded for sewage planning in the Capital Region. 

However, I believe what cannot be afforded is a sewage treatment plan that fails to look at all options to lessen the tremendous financial impact that wastewater treatment is going to have on every household and taxpayer of Greater Victoria.

There are substantial opportunities to reduce costs further below the most recent estimate of $715 million that are not being investigated. 

Jurisdictions such as the West Shore and North Vancouver are pursuing even greater integrated resource recovery systems to generate sustainable and valuable revenue streams.

An additional and very significant oversight by the Capital Regional District is the opportunity to locate both the liquid and biosolids processing facilities in close proximity to each other in Victoria’s industrial area of the harbour. 

Two teams of experts (at a cost of almost $1 million) have touted the benefits of locating these facilities close together.  Sites in Victoria exist that would significantly decrease infrastructure costs and also boost the revenues from resource streams due to increased efficiencies and proximity to local markets.  Why are they not being investigated?

Ms. Brownoff, missed opportunities to reduce costs further is the luxury taxpayers cannot afford.

Kim Bellefontaine

Esquimalt

Rabbits special part

of life at UVic

Re: Burrowing bunnies bungle UVic fields (News, Oct. 2)

Every once in a while there is a big campaign to eliminate one of the University of Victoria’s greatest assets: the rabbits on the lawns.

Then comes the publicity campaign labelling them as pesky scoundrels and rascals, echoing the words of those who want to get rid of them. 

They are not criminals who have done anything wrong. They are just living out their natural, innocent lives. Grazing peacefully, they inspire quietness and calm in stressed-out scholars. They give life to the beauty of the landscape.

Their tiny droppings are not lethal; quite the contrary. Essentially non-odorous, they disintegrate quickly to provide free, nutrient-rich fertilizer. We do not cut down all the trees at the university just because their leaves have to be raked up in the autumn.

Of course there may be a few problems on the sports field, but that does seem to be under control. 

Yes, the groundspeople might have a bit of work there, but if there was no work, there would be no jobs. That is part of their job. It is hardly going to bankrupt the university.

All these are simply scare tactics to convince the ignorant and gullible into compliance with “control” measures.

Rabbits, like other animals and birds, are part of the fabric of life and a very special part of the University of Victoria, like the deer at Princeton. They should be treasured.

If a humane way can be found to neuter them, fine, but please let them live out their lives in freedom to bring joy to ours.

Maidie Hilmo

Saanich