All Sooke Residents should have to ante up for sewers

By Tia Leschke to the Sooke News Mirror, July 23, 2003

Editor:

I read in the council information that sewers are going to be a huge benefit to Sooke. Our public health is at risk if we don't build them. The harbour and basin need to be cleaned up to protect fish habitat and recreational values. We need the development of a vibrant and economically sustainable town core. We need a long-term care facility.

My question is, since this appears to benefit all Sooke residents, why are only the poor suckers in the core area being asked to pay for them? Why not all Sooke residents, which would certainly lighten the individual load? I see in another sewer article that only those in the specified area are allowed to vote.

Would that still be the case if the whole community was being asked to foot the bill? It sure doesn't seem fair to me, especially when some of the councillors who are deciding these things won't have to pay because they don't live in the core area.

I have also not seen any explanation as to why everyone in the area must hook up at the same time, as soon as the system is built, even those with brand new or perfectly working systems. If the system was being paid for by the whole community, whether they were hooked up or not, people could hook up either when they could afford it or whenever their septic system was tested and failed, whichever came first. I understand the CRD has plans to require regular testing of septic systems anyway.