I am a retired Civil Servant who has worked at the Federal and International levels dealing with a budget much larger than you could dream of.
This email is to tell you openly of my concerns about the proposed introduction of a new sewer drainage or pump system within the Zone 3 catchment locate at Southcott Pines in Grand Bend.
I realize that your office is keen to get the message across that you will protect the environment with resources that have been assigned jointly by Federal, Provincial and Municipal authorities.
The efforts of all three representative bodies will work in that direction only if they are properly coordinated with another representative body which is the consumer, and in this case the voter, who should have a significant say in what is done.
What I have seen is very destructive of the process of getting people to work towards a responsible solutions to very serious environmental issues. The end users, the people, the voters, are asking that you follow not only the law, but the best courses of action to get the job done in ways that the progress made is sustainable. What is currently in the pipeline for my locality will ultimately be unsustainable and have to be reversed by a wiser more coordinated and responsive collection of individuals. That is my concern. I do not wish to see projects that will be torn up and thrown away within a short space of time, especially as resources to protect the environment are extraordinarily scarce.
Realistically, to accomplish a sustainable system for removing human waste, you need to talk to the people who produce it. There is no other way to have them on board. The idea that you can mandate a solution by labeling it the best is a false and dangerous path to take as it precludes the many difficult steps that are needed to produce a sustainable solution, one that will last, do the job, and be supported financially by all levels of participate over the long haul.
I think the steps to introduce the proposed sewer systems for this area are greatly misguided, misfitting to the job, and unsustainable at almost every level of participation. This is why you will hear so many frustrated people taking on positions as equally misfitting to the task. In short, you, the Federal Government, the Regional people, and the local people have not yet finished your homework. It is not good enough to say that you are eager to go ahead and have the money, when their is no brains behind the application of the technologies proposed and they do not fit the task, are ill suited to the job, do not engender support from the end user and will damage relations at all levels of participation.
So, please, I know you want to look good on this and I know you want to do a good job, and I know you are keen that the environment be protected, but THINK more about the process, get all the soldiers in a row, get technologies that are fitting to the task and then go about getting support in the proper way with everyone on board because that is what it takes for a sustainable solution.
Personally, I don't know you, but what I have seen thus far suggests that the people with the money are not doing their proper job of seeing the i's dotted and the t's crossed and there may be some strange illegalities going on. We don't know. I don't know, but the present process of proposal, selection, review, consultation, and implementation is not good. It smells more than the pollution we are seeking to avoid.
You are the man! You need to get your head around this or you will cross a threshold of discontent and wasted time that nothing you propose in the future will be sustainable. Get your act together and participate appropriately as you should. Get better people on the job. Get them to focus more on the tasks that will get us a sustainable effort of which we can all be proud. That you have gone down the wrong tracks so far is no shame. Everyone makes mistakes, but don't continue in the misfitting directions you are heading with this.
Arthur Lake,
Will ye no think kindly on those who would be your friends! May the sun shine on your thoughts, today!