by Jan and George Orchiston City of Powell River’s liquid waste management plan (LWMP) has been alive for several years now and no doubt many employees, staff and committee members have worked long and hard on a potential solution and we appreciate their effort. However, we are presently deeply troubled with the process that city council has now employed in this matter.
In April 2010, an agreement in principle (AIP) was reached between Catalyst Paper Corporation and the city after a dispute over that company’s industrial taxes assessed by the city. The AIP accommodates the privatization of the treatment by Catalyst of the city’s wastewater. No approval of this AIP has been sought or obtained from the residents of Powell River by our council.
As of January 6, 2011, the liquid waste management steering committee, which is made up of among others, several council members, discussed “a public consultation plan” regarding the wastewater treatment issue. At this point in time, a decision has not been made by the city regarding the method of wastewater treatment or location.
On January 19 the liquid waste management advisory committee met and no final recommendation from that body regarding the method of wastewater treatment or location was determined.
On February 3, Geoff Allan, a private facilitator, attended the steering committee meeting to discuss a public consultation plan for the LWMP. Certain councillors and staff were at this meeting. After consideration of Allan’s input, the steering committee passed a motion directing staff to develop a comprehensive community consultation process in advance of site selection.
On February 9 the city website advises that the city is still considering four liquid waste management options and that one of those options is co-treatment with Catalyst. As of this date, residents have not been asked to participate in a comprehensive community consultation process nor has their approval of any final decision regarding a liquid waste management proposal been sought.
Suddenly the city, and we assume with the approval of the majority of councillors, has made an application for funding in the amount of $7,270,000 to the Gas Tax Fund General Strategic Priorities and Innovations Fund, administered by the Union of BC Municipalities, to build a Catalyst-Powell River joint wastewater treatment facility. This application by the city further states that, “it is expected that this joint venture with Catalyst Paper will start by April of 2011 and be completed by October 2012.”
This decision by council to unilaterally select the co-treatment option with Catalyst without conducting a comprehensive community consultation process in advance of any site selection, and further its failure to obtain the electors’ approval, is improper and may in fact be illegal.
We would encourage council to rescind its decision in this matter and follow the spirit of the motion adopted by its steering committee, “to develop a comprehensive community consultation process in advance of site selection.”
George Orchiston was a power engineer in the power plant at Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division for over 40 years. Jan Orchiston was a teacher in the Powell River School District for 32 years.
