Editor:
I am a director in the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society, and have had the responsibility for managing the Sechelt Marsh for 11 years. We sub-lease the Sechelt Marsh property from the District of Sechelt, who leased it from the BC Nature Trust. The leases are quite specific about expectations regarding the protection of nature.
The District of Sechelt is developing a sewage treatment plant adjacent to the Sechelt Marsh. This month, their contractor, Maple Reinders, installed a 16-inch line from the sewage treatment plant to the Marsh. This pipe can be viewed from the aluminum bridge on the west side of the Marsh. It will send raw sewage to the Marsh in the event of an upset or power failure in the sewage plant — their solution to any problems happening in this urban facility. Untreated sewage will kill all salmonid species in the marsh and necessitate clean-up of sewage substances and dead birds.
Trespass took place, and the line in the Marsh was installed with no approval of or notification to the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society, again, the sub-lessee with responsibility for the Marsh. Incursion was inexcusable, and the pipe and concept unacceptable.
Apparently no other options were considered, such as a holding tank, spare pumps or other obvious solutions.
Barry Pruden, Sechelt
