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Residents in Sooke are concerned about the imminent tax hikes to pay for the new sewer system. |
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Calendar of Events & special Dates |
by Kim Kerns, November, 2000 So the Sooke municipal council is at it again. The wolf in sheep's clothing is the 'solution to pollution' in the harbour and basin. According to mayor Ed Macgregor, it is not a question of 'if' Sooke taxpayers will pay for a sewage treatment system, but which one we will buy. That's right - the council has decided the basin is polluted with sewage and instead of looking at alternatives for possible sewage pollutants, such as strict standards on development and replacement systems for new cleaner and efficient systems, or subsidies for replacing leaching septic systems, the only solution council has chosen to look at is a sewer/treatment system for the core. A treatment system that you and I, as taxpayers, will pay for. The consultant who studied the options informed us at the public meeting that benefits of this system included 'increased property values' for the downtown core of Sooke (oh, and yes, the system would make the basin less polluted). How much will it impact water quality and reduce pollution in the harbour and basin? It appears no one seems to even have considered that question worth studying. One can, however, speculate how much it will improve property values. If you are developing properties or own a large piece of land in the core, a municipal sewer system will allow for supporting higher densification of your property and save you the cost of providing a septic system, clearly a benefit to your pocketbook. If you are just a homeowner in the core, after you are required to pay the cost to hook up your house then dig out or destroy your old system, and pay your higher taxes, will your higher property values allow you to even break even? If you are a homeowner not in the core, unfortunately, you will still be polluting at the same level, so your pollution contribution will remain as it was, your taxes will go up, your home values will stay the same, or worse, probably decrease due to high taxes. Hum, I wonder who gains the most in this situation? Clearly if the real goal is to make it easy to cheaply and quickly develop and densify the core of Sooke, a sewage treatment is a good strategy. As for pollution in the harbour and basin, even with the sewage system there will still be many many points of pollution . After all, previous water studies have shown worst single sources of pollution in the basin are the marinas, and I believe mayor Macgregor supports the one proposed to be built just across the water he is going to spend our $14 million to clean. It seems to me council has other reasons beyond pollution for insisting that Sooke taxpayers shoulder the cost of a sewer system at this time. I asked one of the councilors "why all the rush?" I was told it was because they all included beautifying Sooke and addressing "sewage and pollution" issues in their campaigns. Funny - I only recall one 'green' candidate really even talking seriously about pollution issues and unfortunately she didn't get elected. |
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