LOCAL NEWS
LAKE ERIE BEACHES GOOD FOR SWIMMING
LAKE ERIE BEACHES ALL HAVE A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM NIAGARA REGION.
AND ALL BUT THREE LAKE ONTARIO BEACHES ARE POSTED SAFE FOR SWIMMING. LISTED AS UNSAFE ARE GARDEN CITY AND JONES BEACHES IN ST. CATHARINES AND MURRAY PARK BEACH IN GRIMSBY.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATED ITS CONDITIONS ONLINE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, BASED ON MOST RECENT WATER TESTING RESULTS.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS SEASON IS UPDATING ITS SWIM CONDITIONS TWICE A WEEK. INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING NIAGARA'S BEACH HOTLINE AT 905-688-8248 EXT. 7789 OR BY GOING ONLINE TO
WWW.REGIONAL.NIAGARA.ON.CA/BEACHES. (WRONG LINK)
HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL POST NOTICES WARNING THE PUBLIC NOT TO ENTER WATERS WHERE WATER TEST RESULTS SHOW UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF E. COLI BACTERIA THAT ARE FOUND IN HUMAN AND ANIMAL WASTE, OR BECAUSE OF FLOATING DEBRIS, OIL, EXCESSIVE WEED GROWTH, BAD ODOURS AND GENERAL TURBIDITY.
LOCAL NEWS
DRINKING WATER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR TRAILER PARK
A drinking water advisory has been issued by the public health department for Southlands Trailer Park, due to an excess in turbidity levels in the water supply.
Turbidity is the measure of cloudiness of water due to sediment or silt and can reduce the effectiveness of water disinfection, leading to risk of bacterial infection, Niagara Region said in a release yesterday.
Residents and visitors to Southlands Trailer Park are advised to use an alternate water supply for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking, washing dishes and bathing small children.
Health inspectors were meeting with residents and visitors to inform them of the advisory, which remains in effect until further notice.
MARK TAYTI / TRIBUNE STAFF
LOCAL NEWS
WAINFLEET MAYOR HOPES FOR BIG TURNOUT
WAINFLEET MAYOR HOPES FOR BIG TURNOUT AT AUG. 11 MEETING; WATER AND WASTEWATER ALTERNATIVES ON THE AGENDA
WAINFLEET RESIDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ON THE WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER SERVICING PROJECT IN TWO WEEKS.
"I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL LAKESHORE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND," WAINFLEET MAYOR BARB HENDERSON SAID. "THIS IS AN EDUCATION AND INFORMATION SESSION THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT ALL THE ALTERNATIVES WITH RESPECT TO WATER AND SEWER ISSUES IN WAINFLEET AND HELP RESIDENTS DECIDE WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION WILL BE."
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, AUG. 11, AT PORT COLBORNE BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH ON HIGHWAY 3 FROM 9 A.M. UNTIL NOON.
WATER AND SEWER SERVICING ALTERNATIVES WILL BE REVIEWED AND RESIDENTS CAN GAIN INSIGHT INTO POTENTIAL PROJECT COSTS, FUNDING OPTIONS AND NEXT STEPS.
THE MEETING WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 1 BUT WAS RESCHEDULED AT RESIDENTS' REQUEST TO ENSURE INFORMATION GATHERED CAN BE INCORPORATED IN THE FINAL WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER SERVICING PROJECT REPORT.
HENDERSON SAID PUSHING BACK THE MEETING ALSO ENSURES THAT SUMMER RESIDENTS ALONG LAKESHORE ROAD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE AT THE MEETING AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED.
"THIS TIES BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS FOR PUBLIC INPUT," THE MAYOR SAID. "I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT."
HENDERSON SAID SHE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE DIRECTION THE PROCESS HAS TAKEN SINCE THE LAST MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
"COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY," HENDERSON SAID. "THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THE CHOICES BEING MADE FOR THE FUTURE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED. THE PROCESS IS STILL VERY MUCH OPEN AND IF RESIDENTS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD."
HENDERSON SAID THE ENTIRE WAINFLEET COUNCIL RAN FOR OFFICE THIS TERM ON THE PREMISE OF FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO AN EXPENSIVE WATER AND SEWER PROJECT THAT WOULD HAVE RUN DOWN LAKESHORE ROAD AND EVENTUALLY HOOKED UP TO REGIONAL WATER AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES IN PORT COLBORNE.
"THE REGION HAS RESPECTED OUR POSITION," SHE SAID. "THAT IS WHY WE HAD THE TECHNICAL REVIEW IN APRIL. THE REGION HAS ALSO RESPECTED MY DESIRE FOR MORE COMMUNICATION."
TO COMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC PROCESS, THE REGION IS ALSO UNDERTAKING A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 1,300 HOMES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY WHATEVER DECISION ULTIMATELY FLOWS OUT OF THE PROCESS.
THE TELEPHONE SURVEYS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE REGION'S REPORT TO THE PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.
WHAT READERS SAY
BLAME FOR LAKE'S POLLUTION IS MISGUIDED
In a recent article about the state of the beaches in Wainfleet and Port Colborne, Barb Henderson, the mayor of Wainfleet, is quoted as saying "the septics (systems) are contributing to the problem on the lakeshore and we are working toward a solution."
Without doing animal DNA testing, which the region outright refuses to do, there is no way that this statement can be taken seriously. We have no less than six farms along the lakeshore of which three have livestock. Do you think, Madam Mayor, that some of that E. coli is part of the problem or are you really willing to paint all of us nasty homeowners as the only contributing factor?
I get the sense from you that if you were to take a walk along the beach you think that you would see all sorts of effluent spewing and gushing out onto the beach.
Wrong.
The only thing that spews and gushes are the township culverts that so handily deliver water full of contaminants to the beaches, that contain not only farm runoff but runoff from the dump and the two golf courses along the lakeshore.
The MOE has already stated that they won't issue an "order" for the pipeline to be laid (because that's what the mayor's angle was all about) because the region's public health department can't prove that our water in Wainfleet is any worse than anywhere else in the whole province, let alone the region.
So hey, Dr. Robin Williams, chief medical officer of health, if you are so convinced that you are right, go ahead and write the "order" to have the blessed pipe put in the ground, that way the region will have to pay the humongous bill.
Never mind that the pipe won't totally fix the pollution along the lakeshore. The water table will still be contaminated with those self same-runoffs mentioned previously as well as the acid rain that falls and contributes to the quality of our water.
Let's not forget the dumping that goes on from the U.S. side of the border that floats over here and of course the ships that dump their crap directly into the lake, all contributing to the lake water being polluted.
It isn't and never has been entirely the fault of the lakeshore homeowner.
Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should. Just because the engineering marvel of the pipeline of many years ago was the the perfect fit then doesn't mean that it is now.
With all of the concerns and articles of late about the state of the infrastructure in the province why would any sane, rational person want to add to that problem when a perfectly logical and much cheaper alternative that addresses all of the public health issues has been brought forward?
If you are a Wainfleet resident and want to have some sort of voice and ask some questions, come out to the public meeting on Aug. 11, at the Brethren in Christ Church from 9 a.m. to noon.
Let your voices be heard by the mayor and council as it is you they represent, not themselves.
Betty Konc
Chair
Wainfleet Water/Sewer Committee
Wainfleet
WHAT READERS SAY
WHERE IS THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY?
Wainfleet's township council was elected, less than a year ago, on promises that it would investigate every alternative to the region's big-pipe solution to the alleged contamination concerns along the lakeshore.
Once elected, the township council, through Mayor Barb Henderson's acceptance speech, promised it would strive to maintain Wainfleet's rural identity, monitor and control new building and work towards a better and greener township and community.
Who was misleading whom?
Wainfleet council is now apparently completely behind the region's plan to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on imposing big pipe, municipal water and wastewater services on a Wainfleet community which just plain doesn't want it.
The region's planning department has recently confirmed that these services can support 9,500 new homes in Wainfleet.
The first signs of the new township council's limited and rural development plans is the development at what was Lakewood Camp. Anywhere from 50 to 80 condo-style homes on Lakeshore Road, effectively ending any rural planning policy on minimum size for building lots in the future.
Anything less like maintaining any rural identity is difficult to imagine, yet the township council has confirmed it will allow planning permission for this project.
Whilst neither for nor against the idea of Jericho House so far, that particular development on Rathfon Road is also confusing.
There is a boil water advisory over the area. It is a project supposedly catering to youth groups and I understand, though stand to be corrected, regardless of an advisory (in itself a reason for refusing any building permit), current regulations insist that such facilities cannot be built with septic systems?
I also understand that neither the Township of Wainfleet nor the region have so far approved planning permission, yet the developers have stated they intend to start clearing to build within the next two months.
Of far more concern than our politicians' broken promises, who appear to be totally helpless as far as what happens to their own township, is just who is now actually deciding how Wainfleet is to be developed?
There is surely no sign of any democratic process taking place.
Andrew Watts
Wainfleet
WHAT READERS SAY
REGION HAS TOO MUCH CONTROL
MORE LOCAL CONTROL?
Is the editorial in the July 24 edition of The Tribune written as a serious piece?
It amazes me that after the region's performance regarding Wainfleet over the past three years, any serious journalist would continue to write platitudes, with no single word of criticism, about a regional government that has made it very obvious that they, the region, are the only ones who do control.
If you bother to the read the Municipal Act, there already exists legislation that allows local municipalities to take control over local planning decisions that even the provincial government can't overturn.
But this, of course, is only if local municipalities show the strength of character to support their own municipalities rather than bow to pressure from region or province.
Wainfleet is a local, and painful example, that it's all too easy for small local government to not only capitulate, but also to change and do a complete about face on election promises made mere months ago.
For the region to maintain and increase their power they need money, yours the taxpayers' money, and lots of it.
The easy way to do that is to increase their 'tax base', such an innocuous and harmless phrase!!!
Before anyone can claim it is a "good thing" when "it will become much easier, and less costly, to undertake a development project in Niagara," they really should at least consider whether or not there may be ulterior motives.
Do you really believe that fast tracking new development in a Niagara Region where there is a desperate need for additional building land to fit in with future regional planning objectives is being done in the interests of the local populace?
If you believe that the region has the slightest interest in cutting red tape, whatever memorandum of understanding is concerned, I think you are very na‹ve.
They will continue to exert pressure when they feel the need whilst allowing local municipalities to approve more and more residential developments with the attendant loss of rural communities.
They will do nothing to improve the public services, already neglected, overstretched and broken, that any new influx of residents will put even more pressure on.
But, not to worry. The region's tax base will be growing.
Andrew Watts
Wainfleet
DATE CHANGE
Wainfleet Water and Sewer Servicing Project
Public Meeting – DATE CHANGE
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Port Colborne Brethren In Christ Church
10641 Highway 3, Wainfleet
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
At the request of Wainfleet residents, the Region has changed the date of a public meeting originally scheduled for Saturday, September 1. In order to accommodate this request, and incorporate the information gathered from the meeting into its final report on the Wainfleet Water and Sewer Servicing Project, Regional staff will be delaying the final report until September 2007. Another public information session will be held once the final report has been discussed at Township and Regional Councils.
Background – at the request of the Township, the Region initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) in 2003 that was approved 2006. All of the documentation related to the EA, as well as study results and various project-related communication pieces are contained on the Region’s website. Residents are encouraged to review the information at www.regional.niagara.on.ca
On Saturday, August 11, senior staff from Niagara Region’s Public Works Department will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the water and sewer servicing alternatives reviewed to date; project costs; cost allocation; and next steps. Note: the Public Health Department will not be present, nor will public health issues be discussed at this meeting.
In the meantime, the Region will also be conducting a telephone survey of Lakeshore residents. Information garnered from the survey, as well as the August public meeting, will be included in the Region’s report to its Planning and Public Works Committee (scheduled for September 19).
For more information on the August 11 public meeting, or on the Wainfleet Water and Sewer Servicing Project, please contact Bob Steele, environmental co-ordinator, Niagara Region, at 905-685-4225 ext. 3745 or 1-800-263-7215 ext. 3745 or via email at bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca
WHAT READERS SAY
WAINFLEET DOESN'T NEED THE 'BIG PIPE'
FIRST OFF, LET ME SAY THAT I AM A SKEPTIC. ONE THING I'VE MANAGED TO LEARN IN LIFE IS THAT EVEN IF THE GREAT MAJORITY SAYS SOMETHING IS SO, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT SO. ANOTHER THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A FROG TRAINED TO JUMP ON COMMAND AND THEN CUT OFF BOTH HIS HIND LEGS AND THEN COMMAND HIM TO JUMP AND HE DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT CUTTING HIS LEGS OFF MADE HIM DEAF.
ACCORDING TO THE REGION'S FIGURES, THERE ARE 1,400 LAKEFRONT "PROBLEM" HOMES WHICH DON'T HAVE POTABLE WATER TO DRINK BECAUSE OF "FAULTY SEPTIC SYSTEMS." WHEN WELL WATER WAS TESTED, IT WAS TESTED AHEAD OF ANY ALREADY INSTALLED AND FUNCTIONAL WATER-TREATMENT SYSTEMS.
WHEN MANY OF THE WELLS TESTED PROVED TO HAVE "BAD" WATER, THE TESTERS JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SEPTIC SYSTEMS MUST BE THE ROOT CAUSE WITHOUT DOING ANY TESTS TO SHOW THE LINK BETWEEN PATHOGENS IN AND AROUND THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND THOSE FOUND IN THE WATER. BAD SCIENCE.
AND THEN, THE NIAGARA REGIONAL HEALTH UNIT, TO COVER ITS BUTT, BELATEDLY ISSUED A "BOIL WATER ADVISORY" IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT NO ONE OUT HERE HAS EVER GOTTEN SICK FROM DRINKING RAW UNTREATED WELL WATER.
REGARDLESS, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, LET'S SUPPOSE THAT OUR WELL WATER INDEED IS DANGEROUS AND THAT NOT ONE OF OUR 1,400 "PROBLEM" LAKEFRONT HOMES HAS A VIABLE WATER-TREATMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE. INSTEAD OF A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR "BIG PIPE" PROJECT, SEEMS TO ME THAT THE REGION COULD FORWARD THAT $7 MILLION IT HAD EARMARKED FOR THIS PROJECT (IF IN FACT THE REGION REALLY IS CONCERNED WITH OUR HEALTH AND WELFARE AS IT PROFESSES TO BE WHILE TRYING TO FORCE THEIR $70 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT DOWN OUR THROATS) TO PROVIDE ALL OF THESE 1,400 HOMES WITH APPROVED WATER-TREATMENT SYSTEMS.
THE COST OF THIS AT AN ESTIMATED $4,000 PER HOUSEHOLD WOULD WORK OUT TO $5.6 MILLION DOLLARS. EVEN IF IT WERE TO COST $10,000 PER HOUSEHOLD, TOTAL COST WOULD BE $14 MILLION, MILLIONS LESS THAN THE COST OF THE "BIG PIPE." IN FACT, THE COST WOULD BE MUCH LOWER THAN THAT BECAUSE MANY HOUSEHOLDS ALREADY HAVE SUCH APPROVED AND EFFICIENT WATER-TREATMENT SYSTEMS ALREADY INSTALLED.
AS FAR AS "FAULTY SEPTIC SYSTEMS" GO, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE WAINFLEET AND THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT TO START DOING THEIR JOB (WHICH THEY HAVE NEGLECTED THESE MANY YEARS) IN POLICING THESE SYSTEMS AND FORCING THOSE WITH PROBLEM SYSTEMS TO REPAIR THEM (AT THEIR OWN COST) AND IN THOSE CASES WHERE THAT IS UNFEASIBLE, THEN FORCE THOSE OWNERS TO PUT IN HOLDING TANKS, AGAIN AT THEIR OWN COST. THIS WOULD TAKE ALL THE BURDEN OFF TAXPAYERS AND PLACE IT ON THE OFFENDERS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
I REALLY DOUBT THIS WILL DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE GROUNDWATER OR LAKEWATER QUALITY BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUR SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE THE CAUSE OF THE WATER POLLUTION TO BEGIN WITH. BUT THEN, THE "BIG PIPE" PROJECT ALSO DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY. PUMP OUR WASTES TO TREATMENT PLANTS WHICH, EVERY TIME THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN, END UP DUMPING THOUSANDS OF CUBIC METRES OF UNTREATED SEWAGE INTO THE REGION'S RIVERS AND LAKES. NOT TO MENTION THE ADDED POPULATION DENSITY THAT WOULD ACCRUE OUT HERE (BECAUSE WITH SEWERS AND PIPED-IN WATER, THE TWO-ACRE BUILDING RESTRICTIONS WILL GO BY THE BOARD) AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY. MORE PEOPLE EQUALS MORE CARS, POWER BOATS, LAWNMOWERS, SNOW BLOWERS, LAWN FERTILIZERS, INSECT-CONTROLLING CHEMICAL POISONS, ETC.
WE THE WAINFLEET RESIDENTS LOVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THIS RURAL COMMUNITY AFFORDS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. WE DON'T WANT OR NEED THE "BIG PIPE." FURTHERMORE, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. LET THE REGION GIVE US THE $7 MILLION IT ORIGINALLY OFFERED AND WE CAN ALL HAVE POTABLE DRINKING WATER WITHOUT BLASTING THROUGH BEDROCK AND OVERLOADING THEIR ALREADY OVER-BURDENED WATER-TREATMENT PLANTS WITH OUR SEWAGE.
ANDR‚ G. GERMAIN
WAINFLEET
KAESHA FORAND
WATER, SEWER ALTERNATIVES FOR WAINFLEET
THE WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE IS HOLDING A COMMUNITY MEETING IN KOSSUTH PARK WITH ON-SITE AND WATER TREATMENT COMPANIES ON SATURDAY.
THE EVENT WILL FEATURE BOOTHS FROM PINNACLE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, ECOFLO, SUNMAR COMPOSTING TOILETS, CLEARFORD INDUSTRIES, E/ONE AND BIONEST. EZFLOW - UNIQUE BUILDING SYSTEMS AND MAKE-WAY SEPTIC SOLUTIONS HAVE YET TO CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE.
"EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE SIMILAR THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME SYSTEMS. EACH ONE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER," SAID BETTY KONC, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
KOSSUTH PARK IS ON LAKESHORE ROAD, EAST OF GOLF COURSE ROAD, AND BOOTHS WILL BE SET UP IN THE HALL FROM 1 P.M. TO 5 P.M., AND COMPANIES WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THEIR PRODUCTS AND PRICES.
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THEIR CURRENT SYSTEMS, LOT SIZES AND THE COST TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THEIR CURRENT SYSTEM.
KONC SAID SHE WILL ALSO GIVE AWAY 275 KEEPING YOUR WELL WATER SAFE TO DRINK BOOKS PROVIDED BY AGRICULTURE AND AGRIFOOD CANADA WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR WELL.
THE WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF A GROUP OF WAINFLEET RESIDENTS WHO OPPOSE THE REGION'S PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER PIPELINE.
SINCE 2004, MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY RESEARCHING ALTERNATIVES TO "THE BIG PIPE."
KAESHA FORAND
QUARRY HEARING ADJOURNED; ALL PARTIES TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION
AN ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD REEB QUARRY HEARING WAS ADJOURNED ON JUNE 29 TO ALLOW MAQ AGGREGATES AND OTHER PARTIES TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE, SAID WAINFLEET'S PLANNER.
"BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP ISN'T ALLOWING (MAQ) TO INSTALL A FORCE MAIN ON QUARRY ROAD THEY ARE NOW HAVING TO REVISIT THE IDEA OF THE EAGLE MARSH DRAIN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY NEAR CEMENT PLANT ROAD," SAID TOWNSHIP PLANNER MICHAEL BENNER, AFTER THE OMB HEARD PLANNING EVIDENCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THREE DAYS OF HEARINGS. THE OMB WILL DETERMINE WHEN THE HEARING WILL RESUME, BASED ON THE HEARING OFFICER'S AVAILABILITY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AT THE END OF OCTOBER OR BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
MAQ AGGREGATES PROPOSED PIPING WATER FROM THE PROPOSED QUARRY THROUGH AN EIGHT-INCH UNDERGROUND PIPE DOWN QUARRY ROAD TO THE CULVERT AT LAKESHORE ROAD. COUNCIL REJECTED THE REQUEST IN AN IN-CAMERA MEETING ON JUNE 26.
"THE BIG PART WILL BE REVIEWING THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONCERNS OF USING THE EAGLE MARSH DRAIN," BENNER SAID, NOTING MAQ IS ALSO LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED QUARRY'S POTENTIAL IMPACT ON EXISTING QUARRIES IN PORT COLBORNE AND AREA WELLS.
BENNER SAID RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PARTY OR PARTICIPANT STATUS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE HEARING RESUMES BY MAIL AND THE PUBLIC WILL SEE ADVERTISEMENTS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.
TO DATE, THE HEARING OFFICER HAS HEARD EVIDENCE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC, NOISE, BLASTING, DUST, HYDROGEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS INCLUDING FISHERIES.
ONCE THE HEARING RESUMES HYDROGEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE ON THE EAGLE MARSH DRAIN WILL BE FINALIZED.
THE PROPOSED QUARRY'S IMPACT ON WELL WATER AND QUARRY LAKES WILL ALSO BE HEARD.
THE HEARING IS THE RESULT OF JOHN ALLAN REEB'S APPEAL TO THE OMB AFTER WAINFLEET COUNCIL REFUSED TO ENACT A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE OFFICIAL PLAN TO DESIGNATE LAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 3 TO PERMIT A LIMESTONE QUARRY AND ASSOCIATED USES.
KAESHA FORAND
Water and sewer alternatives;
Four on-site water treatment companies present to Wainfleet council
Betty Konc brought four on-site WATER treatment companies to Tuesday night's council meeting to better inform its members "because they haven't done their homework," exploring on-site WATER treatment alternatives.
"As the spokesperson for the Wainfleet WATER/sewer committee I have always talked in generalities with regards to the products and services that the on-site industry can offer to help solve the problem of the beleaguered community," Konc said.
"Tonight I bring with me companies that would like to tell you their own truth in their own way."
Bionest, a Canadian-based company, presented its high performance bioreactor, a tertiary treatment unit. The product utilizes two tanks, a standard septic tank followed by the Bionest treatment process which treats effluent and discharges it into a bed.
Serge Billargeon, a Bionest representative said one of the benefits of the Bionest is it can use an existing septic system.
He said the Bionest bioreactor creates the right conditions for bacteria to grow and eliminates nitrates.
The 1,600 liter a day treatment systems, which would accommodate a three-bedroom house, would cost about $6,000, plus $6,000 for installation and a $3,000 pump station for a total of $15,000 per house or about $35 million for all of Wainfleet's 1,400 homes, including engineering.
Billargeon said the system requires a 20x16 foot area with permeable soil and a 70x16 foot area if the soil is less permeable.
The system also works on rock and can be clustered. It consumes about 115 watts of electricity and maintenance costs are about $160 annually.
The Ecoflo system, created by Premier Tech Environment, also utilizes a septic tank for solid settling and an organic filter for wasteWATER treatment.
The peat moss-based septic system uses a blend of moss, a natural filtering media to filter and retain pollutants until their degradation.
"We don't just meet the building code, we surpass it," said Rod Slagter, of Premier Tech., to more than 100 residents that filled council chambers for the presentations.
Ecoflo systems require 28 square meters to 128 square meters and cost about $15,000 per home, or $21 million for all township residents. Slagter said the peat moss is replaced every eight years at a cost of $1,250.
John Martin, of Pinnacle Environmental Technologies, presented the Fixed Activated Sewage Treatment (FAST) sewage wasteWATER treatment system.
The FAST system uses the first compartment to separate solids from liquid.
A remote air blower then creates vigorous air movement and the biofilter provides an environment for "friendly" bacteria to multiply, removing 95 per cent of contaminates.
The system uses one tank with two chambers and Martin said a biofilter could be inserted in an existing tank. He pegged maintenance for the system at about $150.
He said similarly to the other systems presented it would cost the township about $35 million for the FAST systems.
The final alternative isn't a solution to Wainfleet's WATER woes, but rather a different way of curbing septic waste.
The Sun-Mar composting toilet doesn't require septic systems or plumbing and can be placed anywhere.
Its environmental benefits include no pollution, saving WATER, recycling nutrients and outputs little or no liquid.
The toilet's unique design uses peat mix bulking material and a Sun-Mar microbe mix to compost the waste and toilet paper. The drum is rotated every two to three days and compost is removed from the finishing drawer.
"The cost is a fraction. It's a lot cheaper and easier to install," said Fraser Sneddon of Sun-Mar.
"Within one month the soil can be disposed of from the toilet into the flower bed."
Composting toilets come in a wide variety of models in WATER free or WATER flush units and electric or non-electric models which range in price from $1,300 to $1,600 per toilet.
"Regardless of what these companies offer, they all agree that individual testing needs to be done and that their solutions are more affordable," Konc said.
"Please note that not one company and their product will be able to service the whole of the lakeshore. It will more than likely be a combination of systems, as not every lot will need to have a complete system installed or repairs done," Konc said.
Additional information on the products presented are available at the Ontario On-Site WasteWATER Associations website at
www.oowa.org.
WHAT READERS SAY
WAINFLEET CAN SHOW ITS SPIRIT BY SUPPORTING FIRE DEPARTMENT
When you receive a letter from me it is usually to do with the Wainfleet water/sewer issue - not so this time around.
I was at the local Wainfleet council meeting on June 12, when Gord Davies spoke to council about the need for a new compressor to fill the new breathing apparatus a generous donar has or will be supplying to the Wainfleet fire department.
Mr. Davies was simply asking council for its support in fundarising endeavours that the firefighters may carry out to acheive this new objective.
By the time the council took its break the fire department had been donated about half the cost of the compressor by those seated in the gallery. I was so moved by this that I too donated money for the cause. I would like to see some more support for the purchase of this equipment and by extension the men that volunteer to make our lives safer.
I challenge Wainfleet businesses and residents to send the fire department a donation so firefighters don't have to take valuable time to stand out there on the road with their boot begging for donations. This is a worthwhile cause and one that benefits all Wainfleet residents, especially when you may find yourself in need of its services.
I know that businesses are constantly asked to donate articles for all kinds of fundraising but this time I am saying lets show them the money.
Come on Wainfleet let's show some community support and get this piece of equipment purchased sooner rather than later. We can make this happen if we all give a little.
Betty Konc
Wainfleet
WHAT READERS SAY
WAINFLEET DECISION APPROACHING
In about a month from now, Niagara Region is going to announce that its preferred solution to the alleged Wainfleet water and septic problems, the laying of municipal mains, water and wastewater pipes is the one they intend to pursue.
Their decision is based on a flawed and incomplete environmental assessment and dictates from the public health, planning and water/wastewater department senior officials who have never yet answered any single, valid question as to why such a project should be implemented.
Few, if any government projects, ever come in under budget so it is not unreasonable to assume the eventual cost to the taxpayer will end up in excess of $100 million. It is a 'total cost recovery project,' so whether 'funding' (taxpayer money) comes from the federal or the provincial government makes no difference. It will all have to be recovered from the taxpayer as additional taxes.
As Niagara Region is the municipality imposing this project I leave you to guess who will be expected to bear the brunt of these taxes.
The whole project is being driven by unelected, so-called 'public servants' who for the past three years and more have refused, time and time again, to explain just how they can justify such a waste of taxpayers' money when there are far better solutions readily available.
Sadly, throughout this whole process, those same public servants have succeeded on intimidating your regional politicians into agreeing with them, even so far as to make local Wainfleet politicians forget their recent election promises less than a year after they were elected.
The worst misinformation, and something neither bureaucrat nor politician has so far publicly stated, is that the most efficient, environmentally friendly and best solution, of on-site and individual remediation, will cost the taxpayer not a cent, as any costs will be the responsibility of individual homeowner. They have also failed to inform the taxpayer and their constituents that these genuine alternatives are already being used in other areas in Ontario and are compliant with provincial and local legislation.
Whilst I'm sure the motives of those involved may well be in the best interests of the public they are supposed to serve as they see it, the reality is they seem incapable of understanding that not only can they be wrong, but by imposing their preferred solution they will be inflicting an environmental disaster on a small rural community that our children and grandchildren will be left to live with.
I urge every single Niagara taxpayer to contact their mayor, aldermen, councillors and any other elected official and ask them to explain why such an enormous expenditure of taxpayer money can be justified when there already exist better alternatives that will cost the regional taxpayer not a cent.
For those who remain skeptical and specifically for all Wainfleet residents, I can only suggest you make time to visit the presentation arranged by the Wainfleet water and sewage committee, at Kossuth Park, Lakeshore, Wainfleet on July 7 when there will be companies present to show on-site solutions for both water and wastewater.
I believe the difference between the actual costs, and the inflated figures offered by regional experts, if nothing else, may at last make enough sensible taxpayers and constituents really question what is being done by the region in our supposed best interests. Andrew Watts
KAESHA FORAND
PLANNER LEAVING WAINFLEET;
MICHAEL BENNER MOVING TO PRIVATE SECTOR
The search has begun for a replacement for Wainfleet's planner Michael Benner, who will leave the township on July 6 to pursue employment in the private sector.
"I've accepted a position as a senior planner with Planning & Engineering Initiatives Ltd., a Hamilton-based private consulting firm," Benner said.
"It was a hard decision, I love working here.
Benner has been township planner for three years and is also secretary/treasurer for the committee of adjustment.
Mayor Barbara Henderson said Benner's job has been posted on various websites with a closing date of July 13.
She said the township hopes to contract a regional or municipal planner to handle day-to day responsibilities until a new planner is hired by the end of August.
"I've enjoyed working with Michael because he's been an asset in the community, especially with his role in the secondary plan and the initiation of the official plan," Henderson said
The firm offers in-house consulting services and project management and co-ordination services in land use and environmental planning, engineering, landscape architecture, stormWATER management, noise studies and inspection and certification.
"It's exciting to be part of new sustainable technology," he said.
TRIBUNE STAFF
DON'T SWIM AT THESE BEACHES
PORT COLBORNE
Nickel Beach and Pleasant Beach in Port Colborne and Sunset Bay Beach in Wainfleet are posted unsafe for swimming by the health department.
Niagara Region updated conditions online this morning, based on most recent water testing results.
One other Lake Erie beach is posted unsafe for swimming, Burleigh Avenue Beach in Fort Erie.
The health department this season is updating its swim conditions twice a week. Information can be obtained by calling Niagara's Beach Hotline at 905-688-8248 ext. 7789 or by going online to www.regional.niagara.on.ca/beaches.
Health officials will post notices warning the public not to enter waters where water test results show unacceptable levels of E. coli bacteria that are found in human and animal waste, or because of floating debris, oil, excessive weed growth, bad odours and general turbidity.
WHAT READERS SAY
WHERE IS WAINFLEET'S LEADERSHIP ON THE WATER ISSUE?
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 26, I ATTENDED A WAINFLEET COUNCIL MEETING TO SEE BETTY KONC AND HER COMMITTEE PRESENT COMPANIES BEFORE COUNCIL OF WHICH HAVE REAL VIABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE WATER/WASTEWATER PROBLEM.
AS THE MEETING CAME TO AN END AND COUNCIL HAD FINAL STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS, I, TOO, CAME UP WITH A FEW QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
- WHY IS IT THAT BETTY KONC AND THE MEMBERS OF THE WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE CONTINUALLY HAVE TO DO THE WORK FOR THE WAINFLEET COUNCIL?
- WHY IS IT THAT THE MAYOR OF WAINFLEET, BARB HENDERSON, HAS NEVER GOTTEN HER OWN PROPER INFORMATION AND DONE SOME MUCH-NEEDED HOMEWORK WITH REGARD TO THE WATER/WASTEWATER PROBLEM/SOLUTION?
MAYOR HENDERSON MADE THE STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS "COMMITTED TO GETTING THE RESIDENTS THE BEST AFFORDABLE PRICE POSSIBLE. "
THE MAYOR MADE THIS STATEMENT WITH THE MOST CONVICTION IN HER VOICE I HAVE HEARD SINCE HER INCEPTION INTO OFFICE. THIS STATEMENT SHE MADE CREATED MY NEXT QUESTION AND CONCERN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WAINFLEET.
- IF MAYOR HENDERSON IS SO SURE THAT SHE HAS THE POWER TO GET THE BEST PRICE POSSIBLE (OF WHICH COULD STILL BE HIGH), THEN WHY DOES SHE NOT HAVE THE SAME POWER TO GET OR FIGHT FOR THE BEST SOLUTION - A SOLUTION THAT WILL NOT ONLY BE BEST FOR THE REGION AND WAINFLEET COUNCIL, BUT A SOLUTION THAT WILL BE BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA AS A WHOLE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LIVE ALONG THE AFFECTED AREA ALONG THE LAKESHORE?
AS A RESIDENT OF FORT ERIE AND A FORMER RESIDENT OF WAINFLEET, I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF MY TAX DOLLARS ANY MORE THAN THE RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE DO.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN WAINFLEET AND MAYOR HENDERSON NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER ACTIONS, OR IN THIS CASE HER LACK OF.
AS OF YET SHE CANNOT SAY THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY SHE DID EVERYTHING WITHIN HER POWER TO HELP FIGHT FOR HER RESIDENTS OR TO FIND A PROPER SOLUTION.
I CHALLENGE YOU, MAYOR HENDERSON, TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, MAKE THE TIME FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE SENDING YOU AND COUNCIL A CLEAR MESSAGE.
THE FUTURE IS GREEN SO WHY NOT START NOW?
JULI KONC
FORT ERIE
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
