Editor:
John Gleeson’s editorial in the April 26 edition of Coast Reporter (“Emergency cuts both ways”) presented a comprehensive picture of the current water supply situation, which is dire enough to cause the SCRD to declare it as an emergency. He does not, however, address the demand side of the situation as it applies to the approval of new developments. The original motion declaring the water emergency, proposed by director Donna McMahon, included a ban on new connections. This clause was removed in the final approval of the motion, on grounds of “potential legal ramifications.”
It would be good to know what these ramifications might entail, in view of the fact that we are facing an escalating water crisis. Does it imply potential lawsuits by developers? In which case, it would appear that corporate interests trump the needs of the community. Logically there would be exemptions to the ban, such as much needed seniors’ long-term care and affordable housing. We realize, after listening to the audio of the Coast Reporter’s editorial board interview with SCRD chair Lori Pratt, that this would not be a simple matter to legislate, but the situation does not afford simple solutions.
We eagerly anticipate an SCRD infrastructure committee report, commissioned last December and still “forthcoming,” on options for development and growth management in a water shortage. It would be interesting to know how much demand has been added by new approvals in the last five months. If this, as we believe, includes a new hotel in Sechelt, one can only imagine the amount of water it alone would use. It may still be possible to mitigate the demand to some extent by requiring Xeriscape landscaping in lieu of lawns, as is presently being done in Sechelt village.
In the meantime, we strongly urge a moratorium on all new projects until an equivalent water supply can be assured.
Michael Siddall and Fern Walker, Sechelt
