The Halifax Regional Water Commission (HRWC) has made submissions to the NS Utility Review Board for an increase in the development charges. The Ecology Action Centre supports increased development charges but opposes a flat charge as it does not support densification in areas already serviced with storm and sanitary sewers. Today is the start of a four-day hearing by the Board regarding the proposed increase in charges.
"We have chosen to be an intervener at these hearings because we are concerned about the impact of current growth patterns in the HRM on the environment and the residents of the municipality. The proposed water charges should be structured to encourage growth in serviced areas rather than the reverse," says Mark Butler, Policy Director at the Ecology Action Centre.
The EAC, along with many other community groups, has been advocating for development charges that cover the full cost of new development. Right now development charges don’t cover the cost of services required and as a result existing ratepayers and taxpayers end up covering the difference.
"These charges should be designed to encourage growth in already serviced areas thus minimizing the need for new water or other services and thus keeping costs as low as possible for HRWC, the ratepayers and the developers,” affirms Andrew Murphy, EAC expert witness.
The role of the Water Commission is to ensure adequate servicing to all existing and proposed development, especially in the area of sanitary sewers and stormwater management. The Water Commission has assumed its role is to build the necessary infrastructure ahead of development. This is a bit like the movie "The Field of Dreams" where if you build it they will come! But poorly planned growth is not a dream, it’s an expensive nightmare.
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