In the recent Question of the Week your readership said no, by a two thirds majority, to a proposed sewer treatment facility in East Porpoise Bay.
In a recent editorial, Cathie Roy said, "Sometimes to be part of a community the greater good needs to trump individual concerns." East Porpoise Bay is already the home of the Sechelt Landfill, the Dusty Road Treatment Plant and the largest open pit sand and gravel mine in North America. I think we can spell community.
Is the regular, obnoxious odour endured by the residents living near the Ebbtide Plant an individual concern? I call it a travesty. In addition, there is evidence that the trial run of the environmentally friendly cleaning compound (bio-magic), being used at this site to reduce odours, does not work.
The cost of this product is $50,000 per year. An old technology plant in the middle of a residential area is not a good fit. Building another low-cost facility in another residential neighbourhood will lower the value and livability of adjoining properties, discourage tourism and future residential development and deprive the District of the income such development would generate.
I also wonder why Sechelt has the only facility that treats residential septic sludge on the Sunshine Coast. There are technologically advanced, aesthetically and environmentally sensitive systems available. They are not cheap; but you get what you pay for.
I'm sure I speak for the majority of East Porpoise Bay residents when I say that I hope our local government will properly research, adequately fund and effectively implement an appropriate system in an area that will not adversely impact a residential area or tourism.
Val Morris
East Porpoise Bay
