Clover Point ruled out for Victoria sewage plant

Residents of Clover Point in Victoria can breathe easy knowing their neighbourhood is no longer under consideration for a new sewage treatment plant.

The Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project Board has released theirinterim reportwith three options for the future treatment of sewage in the Capital Regional District. The board will have to choose one option to present to the CRD in September.

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Jane Bird, chair of the project board, told Robyn Burns, host of CBC'sAll Points West, that vocal opposition from Clover Point residents did factor in to the board's decision to strike the option. However, livability of neighbourhoods is only one of the criterion used to assess the plausibility of a plant's location.

Bird said locations are also screened for their ability to meet the project goals. These goals includemeetingfederal environmental regulations, providing residents and businesses with good value for their money, and optimizing opportunities for resource recovery and greenhouse gas reduction.

The three options being considered by the board are:

• A single plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt
• A single plant at Rock Bay in Victoria
• Two small plants; one at McLoughlin Point and one at Rock Bay

Bird said the board will now scrutinize these options and complete a full cost estimates for each.

"I am pleased with where we are now," said Bird.

"We have been able to review all of the technical and extensive public commentary...and distill the important themes out of that."

The board willfinalize their choiceon Sept. 7 and present their recommendationto the CRD on Sept. 14.

The federal government expects a final decision by Sep.30 or the project could lose federal funding.

With files from All Points West

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Clover Point ruled out for Victoria sewage plant