To the Editor,
Re: Study criteria threatens Westwood, Letters, April 13; Drain the dams, make the call, Letters, April 6.
The floodplain below the Colliery Dam Park dams is said to go beyond Eighth Street and Park Avenue.
This is an incredible stretch of the imagination given that the total volume of water in both lakes is about 200,000 cubic metres.
Imagine what the floodplain of Westwood Lake would be given that it has 10 times the amount of water.
The number of people potentially impacted would be far greater than in the floodplain in Harewood.
The lakes at Colliery Dam have existed for more than 100 years and yet there was never any mention to people downstream that they may be at risk should the dams fail.
Loyd Sherry sat on council for 30 years and was never aware of any study or issue regarding the dams. Further development has been allowed in the floodplain throughout all these years.
A new residence was permitted on the river directly below the outflow just five years ago. Surely our city planners must have had some idea that continuing to permit development in this area may be problematic.
They have had numerous studies that stated that upgrades were called for and yet chose not to do anything but ask for more studies.
Did our administration truly not believe that there really was an issue, or are they now targeting Colliery Dam Park for alternative reasons?
Tom Gray
Nanaimo