James Bay should receive, at minimum, a new public washroom as compensation for disruptions that will accompany construction of a sewage treatment plant at Esquimalt’s McLoughlin Point, says Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt.
“Given that the region has opened up the purse strings … and has been fairly generous in terms of amenities in relation to this project, I think consideration has to be given to do something for James Bay,” Isitt told members of the Capital Regional District’s sewage committee Wednesday.
Esquimalt is to receive a $20-million amenity package for hosting the treatment plant at the site of a former tank farm at McLoughlin Point.
“We’ve described the Esquimalt amenities as being tied to construction mitigation and other factors and I think the reality is those amenities are being provided, essentially, as the political price of getting approval of this project,” Isitt said.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who also chairs the CRD sewage committee, said Isitt’s comments would be better put when Victoria city council considers the zoning application today.
Sewage now flowing through the Clover Point pump station is screened and discharged through the outfall there. Under the plan for sewage treatment, sewage would be redirected to a new pipe running underground along Dallas Road to Ogden Point, then under the Victoria Harbour to a new treatment plant at McLoughlin Point.
The CRD is proposing a number of amenities for Victoria as part of the needed improvements to Ogden Point. Those include a three-metre-wide bike path to be built over the pipe’s three-kilometre route from Clover Point, a public viewing plaza at Clover Point, at least four new benches, facilities for bicycle maintenance and repair, bike racks, a water fountain and public washrooms. Also included would be a one-time payment of $75,000 for washroom maintenance.
But James Bay Neighbourhood Association president Marg Gardiner said the improvements are centred in Fairfield while James Bay will bear the brunt of construction impacts for a year as drilling is done to lay the pipe across the harbour.
In addition, prevailing winds mean James Bay will also bear the brunt of any emissions, she said.
Esquimalt council will hold a public hearing into rezoning McLoughlin Point on Feb. 20.
As part of its amenity package, the township has dropped an earlier demand that construction materials be barged to the site so as not to disturb neighbours and to minimize wear and tear on the roads.
Instead, about $8 million to $9 million previously earmarked for the barging and related facilities will be diverted to a $17-million amenity reserve for improvements to parks, recreation facilities and public safety.
Under proposed zoning bylaw changes, improvements totalling $950,000 are included for streets between Lampson Street and Esquimalt Road. All roads damaged by construction traffic are also to be reinstated to equal or better conditions than existed before construction.
Also included in the mix is a $55,000 annual payment to an Esquimalt reserve fund in lieu of property taxes, an upgraded pump station at Macaulay Point, upgraded air filters for local schools and $100,000 for public art.
