Decision on Saanich sewage site expected Wednesday
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: October 04, 2009 2:12 PM
A planned sewage treatment plant in east Saanich should be built in Haro Woods, straddling the line between land owned by the Capital Regional District and Saanich, a new report recommends. CRD directors on the core-area liquid waste management committee will vote on the recommendation to make the Haro Woods the preferred option Wednesday, all but eliminating two sites on the University of Victoria campus from consideration. The CRD bought a 4.4-hectare piece of land at the corner of Finnerty and Arbutus roads in the Haro Woods for $6.5 million in January, with a treatment plant in mind. While the prospect of building a plant anywhere in the woods has angered many people in the surrounding neighbourhood, some have suggested the CRD also consider the adjacent Saanich-owned piece of land, which has already been partly cleared.
The new staff recommendation suggests building a plant partially on the disturbed Saanich-owned portion. If the committee endorses the recommendation, the site will go ahead for a detailed environmental assessment and CRD staff will begin discussions with Saanich about the use, lease, or purchase of the additional land.
Also on the agenda, committee members will wrestle with how to respond to a joint resolution from Colwood and Langford telling the CRD the West Shore municipalities want to take control over their own sewage treatment plans and choose their own potential plant locations.
v2
