Chair, School District 68
I
am in receipt of the letter that was forwarded to the Honourable
Steve Thomson, Nanaimo City Staff, School Board personnel and the Dam
Safety Branch. In it you have expressed a concern with regard to the
Colliery Dams and the decision made by the City on August 07, 2013 to
cancel the tender for their removal. As our group of concerned
citizens was specifically mentioned in this motion, I thought it
prudent to offer some feedback.
The
motion was passed unanimously by Nanaimo City Council with the
expectation that a short term risk mitigation plan be brought to
council at the first available opportunity (Sept 09, 2013). It was
further moved and seconded that Council continue to engage the
Snuneymuxw First Nation, the Colliery Dam Preservation Society, and
the public and return at the first opportunity to Council to adopt a
new strategy to deal with the long term mitigation of risks
associated with the dams. This motion was also carried unanimously.
Finally, Council also directed Staff to provide a recommended process
that outline the key steps and estimated completion dates of each
step that will focus the organization on diligently addressing the
life safety and property concerns that have been made known to City
of Nanaimo Council and the community. This recommendation should take
into consideration the commitments of City Council to thoroughly
engage Snuneymuxw First Nation and the community at large as
identified in the 30 day process that has recently been completed.
The motion carried unanimously.
It
is acknowledged that the dams will require some upgrading to current
standards. However, all safety inspections indicate that they are
currently both fundamentally sound and stable and that the lower dam
is already able to withstand a major seismic event. There was
significant work done on both dams in 1980 so as to ensure that they
would not pose a risk to people and property downstream. Your
statement that the dams may be vulnerable to an earthquake can be a
general assumption for most every building in Nanaimo including our
schools. Please keep in mind that John Barsby High School has existed
for 60 years and was built in a floodplain. This floodplain will
exist with or without the Colliery Dams which were erected in 1910.
A
great deal of time and effort has been dedicated to addressing this
complicated issue. City staff have been working diligently on a short
term mitigation strategy that is acceptable to Snuneymuxw and the
Colliery Dam Preservation Society while ensuring that appropriate
measures are being taken to address public safety. I am confident
that the direction from council is being carefully considered and
that appropriate planning will occur. Your statements that you do not
care about the dams and that you want them removed are not considered
as being appropriate as there are many factors to be considered
including the watershed, eco-system, fishery, and the expressed
desire of the community to maintain the park in its existing state
with the lakes intact. Your request to have the water comptroller
take immediate steps and intervene in this process shows a lack of
faith that due process is being adequately considered.and oversteps
the limitations of your position.
Feel
free to contact me directly at any point as our group will be working
closely with the city and Snuneymuxw First Nation to engage the
public in both short term mitigation planning and long term
solutions.
Respectfully
Jeff
Solomon
Colliery
Dam Park Preservation Society
Link to SD68 Chair Brennan's letter here
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