Re: 鈥淪ewage project pushes on into 2019,鈥� Dec. 30.
Deputy project director Elizabeth Scott thinks moving the sewage pipe to the other side of the road protects the tree canopy on Grange Road, but local residents are not convinced. The devil is always in the details, but the Capital Regional District refuses to share any details about the new alignment. That refusal makes the claim that 鈥渨e work very hard on trying to get information out to the community and balancing community impacts鈥� ring hollow.
If the tree canopy on Grange is to be protected through construction, the sewer pipe must be buried within the existing roadbed, as far toward the centreline as practicable. That鈥檚 the only way to steer clear of tree root systems. If, however, the CRD tries to creep the alignment over to the western edge of the road, or run it outside the existing roadbed entirely, we will lose trees 鈥� which is unacceptable and unnecessary.
The CRD sewer project has responsibilities to operate transparently, do due diligence and demonstrate a high standard of care. So far, it is not meeting those tests. If the pipe must be run along Grange, it needs to go into the paved roadway. If that can鈥檛 be done, then it should be run along another street where there is no risk of environmental damage.
David Cubberley
Saanich
