February 25, 2008

Road salt threatens local ecosystems

By Monica Carino, Associate News Editor

 

ae are starting to
wonder how much is too much when it
comes to the effects of large amounts
of road salt on aquatic and plant life.
The unusually high quantities of snow
that fell across the Lower Mainland this

winter demanded large quantities of

salt to keep roads and drivers safe. Yet
now all snow has largely been washed
away by the recent surge of rain and
sun. Where the salt has gone, however,
remains a big concern for many.

According to the Como Watershed
Group, the short-term need to keep
roads salted will likely post long-term
problems for the environment. The
first run-off after a‘snowstorm is often
the most harmful, as salty water drains
steadily into streams and lakes. This, in
turn, poses serious questions as to how
much salt is getting absorbed in the soil,
and how it will affect local flora.

Port Coquitlam was the first city in
the Tri-Cities area to develop an anti-
icing program that is less salt-based,
instead spraying a brine: solution on
road surfaces before snow falls. It was

reported that PoCo used 30 per cent less
salt last year as a result of using brine, a
service the rest of the Tri-Cities plan to
employ next winter.

“We’re in the process of getting the
plan up and running and we’ll be good
to go for the next snow season,” said
Coquitlam city engineer Bill Susak.

The Burke Mountain Naturalists
group suggested the usage of
environmental-friendly sand as an
alternative to salt./“Too much salt in
soils is not good, and I can’t imagine
it’s all that good for fresh-water streams,
either,” said one member.

Coquitlam already uses a salt and
sand mixture in their snow cleanup
efforts, but claim salt is ultimately more
effective for triggering rapid melting
unless temperatures dip well below the
freezing point.

Environment Canada has not banned
the use of road salt, recognizing its role in
keeping roads safe for drivers. In 2004,
however, the organization released a set
of guidelines to help municipalities better
manage road salt in a way that would
avoid excess harm to the environment.

 

Largest retail development in PoCo history
passes second council reading

By Nikalas Kryzanowski, News Editor

as company Townline Ventures would like to
begin building two high-rise towers in Port Coquitlam
that will contain some 600 homes and a destination
shopping area—including a 325,000 square foot Wal-
Mart. Such plans have been at the root of an ongoing
controversy over the past decade for fear that these new
towers will have a negative impact on small businesses
in the downtown cores of the community. The Port
Coquitlam City Council, however, officially sanctioned
the idea last week with a 4-1 vote, sending the proposal
to develop the 44-acre parcel to a second legislative
reading. The sole councilor to express reservations was
Greg Moore. He feared that other large Port Coquitlam
businesses would suffer labour shortages as a result of
the new building.

“We know that our retailers in downtown and north
side are already struggling, and it is up to this council
to do what it can to help our existing businesses,” he
said.

Moore also referenced a University of California
study that showed smaller businesses tend to suffer from
a loss of workers when Wal-Mart stores open nearby.
Moore also pointed to another UC study indicating that
Wal-Mart employees are paid lower wages and earn
fewer benefits than other retail workers, and are not
unionized.

The rest of the city council was strongly in favour
of the development, which would be the largest retail
establishmentin the history of Port Coquitlam. Councilor
Michael Wright called the move a “progression,” noting
that while the development “may not be 100 per cent
self-contained,” it is still “exciting.” Responding to
Moore’s complaints, Councilor Arlene Crowe said she
was not concerned about what big box stores pay their
employees. “We have labour laws,” she said.

In 2005, residents of Port Coquitlam were asked
their opinion in a Robbins Trend Poll. A solid 66 per

cent of Port Coquitlam residents were in favour of the
prospect of Wal-Mart entering their community, 31 per
cent rejected the idea while a mere 3.5 per cent were
unsure.

 

The City of Port Coquitlam will be holding a public
hearing on February 25", 2008, at 7 pm to gain public
feedback on the proposal.