No quick answer on DND land; Sewage treatment plants need room -- and there is plenty of it at CFB Esquimalt

Times Colonist (Victoria)
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Page: A14
Section: Comment
Source: Times Colonist

If the federal government is serious about supporting sewage treatment for the capital region, it won't balk at providing unused Department of National Defence land for a treatment plant.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised support for treatment, including one-third of the $1.2-billion cost.

And one of the critical issues is going to be finding land for sewage treatment plants, whether the plan eventually involves one or two large sites or several smaller locations. Few people will want a sewage plant in the neighbourhood, no matter how much they are assured that modern technology means that it will have little impact.

The Department of National Defence (DND) could help solve that problem. Its under-used holdings in the Esquimalt area could provide the best available site for at least part of the project.

But while the DND says it is open to the idea, officials also sound remarkably reluctant to part with any property. The military would have to consider whether it might ever need the land, they say, and consult widely. The final decision would involve a number of government agencies.

Don't get your hopes up, they might as well have added.

It's not certain at this point that DND land will ultimately be needed. Esquimalt residents can be expected to argue, for example, that they should not be the only ones with a treatment plant nearby.

But it would be helpful now to have a clear indication from the federal government that it will look favourably on any requests.

The DND holdings at and around Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt stretch over about 40 square kilometres -- an area four times as large as Oak Bay. Much of that land is under-used. There is no realistic prospect of any changes in our military that will require the use of all that property.

So it should be available not only for sewage treatment but for a range of other uses. In a region where land is at a premium, it makes no sense for a government to be hoarding unneeded holdings.

Even if the DND agrees to free up land, the Capital Regional District must consider its options.

The land would probably come at a cost, with Ottawa most likely deducting its value from the federal $400-million contribution to the project. The waterfront property could be assessed at a significant value.

And the CRD must also weigh the risks in trying to strike this kind of deal, particularly the potential for long delays as the wheels of government grind slowly on. In this case, it's likely First Nations will also argue that any surplus Crown land should be available to address treaty issues.

The first step should be a clear statement from Ottawa that it is prepared to make a serious effort to make land available if that will help advance the project.