Editor:
On Jan. 21, the Coast Reporter announced a federal grant of $117,000,000 towards creating a reservoir in the pits of the First Nations’ mine. Shortly after, one – then another – letter to the editor appeared requesting transparency and questioning the logics and the budget being contemplated.
Ten weeks after the announcement, no further information or explanation has been forthcoming. The concept was publicly “floated” in 2023. At the time, local politicians said much work needed to be done to evaluate and to put potential agreements in place. How much of that process and due diligence really has been done?
And what happened to all the test wells we were drilling, the licensing of Gray Creek as a source, and the increased seasonal use of the flow of Chapman Creek?
It is clear to me through the little bit of math shared that the reservoir approach is not the best value compared to wells and run-of-creek solutions. Also, with all the talk about diversifying our sources of water, more reservoirs would only make us more dependent on weather as compared to wells.
What about the ability for the governments involved (SCRD partners, First Nations, the provincial government), to make ongoing agreements and sharing of potential additional costs involved?
Finally, the bladder that will line the reservoir will need to be replaced at some point. How will we deal with the lack of water during the significant downtime that will be involved. And what will the cost be?
We can only assume that the lack of information coming forward is because there is no information to be had. It is time for the public to demand due diligence and shared transparency.
Peter MacLeod, West Sechelt
