June 06 - 2008 Oak Bay NewsGreater Victoria residents need to start talking about whether they want the district’s sewage treatment system to be in public hands – and soon, says Greater Victoria Water Watch Coalition.
The Capital Regional District has until December to submit a detailed business plan on its proposed $1.2-billion sewage treatment system.
Action has to take place beforehand if the public wants input into what kind of structure the sewage treatment system takes on – public-private partnership (P3) or a public system, said Kim Manton, a member of the coalition.
The coalition backs a publicly-run system. If sewage treatment remains in municipal hands it will be easier to keep its operations accountable, Manton said.
Corporations’ bottom line is profit driven, which would likely increase the district’s utility payments, she added.
On June 12, the coalition is holding a meeting on tools people can use to show support for a public system. The meeting will also clarify what a public system looks like and the jargon surrounding the debate.
“A lot of people are really, really confused,” Manton said.
“There hasn’t been a lot of consultation. The people in our communities don’t even know what is happening (regarding CRD sewage system plans).”
The coalition has created an action committee to focus on sewage issues and help focus discussions, said committee member Terry Huntington.
The topic of a public versus public-privately run facility has been lost amongst conversation over whether a sewage system is even needed, and if so, to what extent it should recover energy and resource from sewage waste, he said.
The coalition hopes to push the public or P3 debate to the forefront of political candour.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union, 2994 Douglas St.
For more information on the meeting, please contact Manton at 888-0270.
raldous,,,vicnews.com
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