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The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is adding a unique new tool to their consultation toolkit by launching a venue where opinions and feedback can be shared online by residents interested in the south region liquid waste management plan (LWMP).
An online consultation forum has been set up at PlaceSpeak – a location-based community consultation website. The service is unique because of its ‘geoverification’ feature which confirms the locations of participants so discussion is focused on those in the affected area.
“Public consultation is critical to the development of a successful liquid waste management plan and we want to be sure there are options for everyone in the area to provide their comments in a convenient way,” said Bruce Jolliffe, CVRD’s director for Baynes Sound – Denman Hornby Islands (Area ‘A’). The CVRD is currently working with consulting engineering firm Associated Engineering on a two-year LWMP process to assess options for wastewater management and water resource recovery for the south region. This process will determine the best option for addressing the impact of failing on-site septic systems in Royston and Union Bay and includes extensive public consultation. One of the options being considered is the south sewer project, a partnership between the CVRD, Village of Cumberland and K’ómoks First Nation that received a federal Gas Tax Fund grant of $15-million and $2-million from the CVRD’s Area ‘A’ and Area ‘C’ Community Works Fund in 2013.
To participate in the online discussion forum, area residents are invited to simply sign up for an account at www.placespeak.com, confirm their location by phone number or address and then visit www.placespeak.com/southregionlwmp to select the “Connect to this Topic” button and start contributing. Participants can comment on discussion boards, post new items and vote in polls.
Only residents in the designated consultation area will be able to participate in the discussion. “The outcome of the LWMP will be very important for the residents of Royston, Union Bay and surrounding areas,” said Kris La Rose, CVRD’s manager of liquid waste planning. “We want to be sure all of those interested have a chance to contribute their thoughts about what the best solution might be.”