Victoria area sewage plant: CRD not revealing 20 possible locations for West Shore

Residents to the west of Victoria are being asked what they think of 20 potential sites identified for a long-awaited sewage treatment plant, but for now, they aren't being told the exact locations of the sites.

"There's no point in bringing forward 20 sites if five of them are really — by the time you've analysed it and put it together with all the information — really not feasible," Esquimalt, B.C., Mayor Barb Desjardins told On The Island's Gregor Craigie.

What the public does know is that the sites are in communities on the West Shore, including Esquimalt, Langford, View Royal and Colwood.

Meetings to consult the public on the sites began Wednesday with a meeting in Esquimalt.

Desjardins said even without the exact locations, officials were able to get a sense of what residents want, and what they don't want.

"Last night we had a discussion and one of the topics was about proximity. How close is close for you and what is acceptable? What do you need for it to be acceptable?" she said.

Desjardins hopes bringing people in to the process at this early stage will quell the backlash when the Capital Regional District does decide on a site for the treatment plant.

"It's making sure that people are a part of the process and that didn't occur well last time. It was directed and not collaborative. The people are part of the process now," she said.

The Capital Regional District had originally planned to located the plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt, but it was unanimously rejected by the city council.

Desjardins said the district will meet with the other communities affected, and will narrow the list down to proceed with technical analysis by the end of June.

Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay have their own selection process for their own sewage treatment plant.

To hear the full interview with Barb Desjardins, listen to the audio labelled: Where will the sewage treatment plant go?