Iniet cleanup to cost hundreds of millions THE NORTH Shore’s Lions Gate sewage treatment plant and industrial activities along the North Shore waterfront are major polluters of the Burrard Inlet harbor, according to a draft report released Monday by the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The report, which outlines an action plan aimed at substantially improving the environment quality of Burrard Inlet, is the result of a six-month, $85,000 study that was initiated by the GVRD following the release last November of a fed- eral government report that found the inlet environment badly polluted. Costs to clean up the inlet, ac- cording to GVRD officials, could range into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The clean-up would also take up to 20 years. The GVRD report emphasizes that the success of any improve- ment program for the inlet de- pends upon a combined effort from all agencies and industries connected with the harbor, together with public involvement and input. It also calls on the provincial and federal government to con- tribute funds toward the inlet clean-up. According to the report the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant releases significant quantities of effluent and the greatest amount of PAHs into the inlet. The plant also contributes significant amounts of lead, cop- The GVRD study also found that ballast and sewage discharge from commercial and pleasure vessels using Burrard Inlet wus a major source of harbor pollution. per and fecal coliform to the inlet environment. But the report states that the current plan to eliminate sewage sludge discharge from the Lions Gate plant, at an estimated capital cost of $4 million, will significantly reduce the pollution impact of the sewage plant. Upgrading the plant from primary to secondary sewage treatment would cost an estimated $40 million and add approximately $2 million annually to the plant’s operating costs. But Brian Talbot, the GVRD’s manager of environmental ser- vices, said Tuesday he is not con- vinced that secondary treatment at the Lions Gate plant would result in significant improvements to the inlet environment. The GVRD report also stated Business.............. 29 Classified Ads..........37 Comics.... wena D4 Lifestyles..............31 Norch Shore Now.......17 that concentrations of such heavy metals as copper were highest around the north shore of the in- ner harbor near the Vancouver Wharves buik loading facility and Vancouver Shipyards. High concentrations of such pollutants as PCBs and TBTs were found in sediments near North Shore shipbuilding and repair operations. The GVRD study also found that ballast and sewage discharge from commercial and pleasure vessels using Burrard Inlet was a major source of harbor pollution. An advisory committee that in- cluded representatives from En- vironment Canada, B.C. Ministry of Environment and the \“’:stwater Research Centre, worked with the GVRD in drafting the plan. The 92-page study states that “while it would be unrealistic to think that the inlet could be returned to a pristine, natural condition, implementing the com- prehensive actions in this plan would substantially improve en- vironmental quality.’’ It recommended various short and long-term actions be taken, including: ® increased enforcement of regu- lations controlling the discharge of contami.ants into the harbor; e formation of multi-agency teams ty work with industries in identifying waste sources and disposal practices not covered by existing rzgulations; * increased source control of ma- terials put into the sewer system; ¢ increased control of ship discharges; © an environmental review process for proposed development on lands around the harbor; ® a comprehensive public in- volvement program to seek public input on the drafi plan. Fundamental to the success of any improvement program, states the report, is the establishment of a properly funded and staffed ‘Burrard Inlet Action Team’ which would have representation from such agencies as the B.C. Ministry of Environment (Waste Manage- ment Branch), Environment Canada, municipalities, the Van- couver Port Corporation end the GVRD. The report, which will be cir- culated to the various agencies and municipalities for review and comment, will likely be submitted to the GVRD board of directors for approval in April. WEATHER Wednesday and Thursday, sunny with a few cloudy periods. Highs near 8°C; lows near freezing. Second Class Registration Number 3835 Charity landiord slammed for hikes CHARITY FOUNDER Stephen Sander has plenty of hot water in the North Shore apartments he rents — he’s taking the heat from angry North Vancouver tenants riled by re- cent rental hikes of more than 20 per cent. Sander announced last month his intention to give millions of dollars to support Third World charitable projects, by way of a ‘new charity called Consciousness By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter International Foundation, with revenue generated by the 23 day. The North Vancouver meeting, which resulted in the formation of the North Shore Tenants Association (NSTA), was orga- nized after North Vancouver te- nants delegations complained to city and district councils that their landlords are forcing them to accept rent increases of up to 60 per cent. Noreen Shanahan, spokesman for the Tenants Rights Coalition, said the North Shore, just like Vancouver, has been caught in the middle of an affordable housing crisis and predicted Squamish will be next if condi- tions do not change for renters. She charged that the provincial government has turned a deaf ear to the concerns being raised by renters. “It’s really important that we do fight this (rent hikes) type of thing. The Social Credit govern- ment is in trouble,’’ said Shanahan. ‘‘They’ll be calling an election soon and they know we're angry.’”’ She added that tenants’ action to protest increasing rents could include negotiating with isadlords, and failing that, picketing the landlords’ proper- ties. “The bigger picture is forcing the provincial government to br- ing back protection for renters,” said Shanahan. Audrey Parker told the meeting that she was fired from her job as an apartment building manager in North Vancouver because she supported tenants who have been calling for rent controls. She said all renters have to join together to fight the rent apartment blocks he owns in West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Vancouver. Sander told the News in December, ‘'...a great deal of credit is due to the tenants who are living in these buildings, because they will be contributing through their rentals to the charity.”’ But while some tenants fume, Hollyburn Properties Lid. general NORTH VANCOUVER resident Audrey Parker vents her frustration on City Ald. Olga Kempo during 2 North Shore tenants’ rights organizational meeting held Sunday at North Shore Neighbourhood House. Parker was one of approximately 75 persons who attended the forum. Tenants untte to fight ‘excessive’ rent hikes THE PROVINCIAL government must be pressured into bringing back legislation to protect renters, and landlords should be forced to roll back any ‘‘excessive’’ rent hikes, a North Shore tenants’ rights meeting was told on Sun- By SURJ RATTA Contributing increases and to force Victoria to reinstate the office of the Rent- alsman. “If we don’t join together and fight then what did I lose my good job for? | could have kept my goed job, but I’m staying to fight for the tenants. I’m not ‘T’m not leaving my apartment ... Iu die first.’’ — former apartment manager Audrey Parker leaving my apartment...P II die first,’’ said Parker. “I think it’s absolutely crimi- nal that these rich landlords can get away with this. The govern- ment don’t give a damn. They want you poor people out of the city to make room for the rich developers. Every building has got to revolt, you'll have to ref- use to pay these high rents,’’ she said. Another renter complained that he has not been getting any help from the North Shore’s three Social Credit MLAs. Erma Brasaraba, president of manager Roger Andrews claims the rental increases were his deci- sion and are generally ‘slightly below the market rental.”’ Said North Vancouver City Ald. Bill Bell, who has taken up the cause of the tenants: ‘‘It’s very disturbing for him (Sander) just to shuffle it off. To blame it on a hard-nosed manager is irresponsi- ble. It’s disturbing because | per- 3 - Wednesday, Sanuary 17, 1990 - North Shore News NEWS photo Neil Lucente the Lower Lonsdale Senior Citi- zens Association, said most landlords will not rent to seniors or tenants who have children. She called for more pressure to be put on Victoria to provide a solution to th rental problem. “*We have a government that doesn’t care if seniors die,’’ she said. Helen Millard, spokesman for the Citizens Action Group of Lower Lonsdale, said ‘‘at least’’ 70 per cent of tenants living in the Lower and Central Lonsdale areas are living in buildings ‘‘that are not as highly valued as the property they’re on and are slated to go.”” North Vancouver City Ald. Bill Bell said council has been “hitting its head against a brick wall’’ in trying to force the pro- vincial government to take some action to curb the rent increases. He said it will take a united ef- fort on the part of renters and other Lower Mainland municipalities to force Victoria to lend renters a sympathetic ear. Bel! said he was ‘absolutely satisfied’’ at the formation of the North Shore Tenanis Associa- tion, although he was not op- timistic that the provincial gov- ernment will now become invelv- ed in the rental issue unti) more pressure is put on it. “*Ie’s a crisis in housing,”’ Bell said. ‘‘They’re (North Shore te- nants) all being gouged. Now they’re going to fight back. Our city council has been knocking its head against a brick wall trying to talk to the provincial govern- ment. If we all join together maybe we can knock that brick wall down.” The North Shore Tenants Association is expected to come up with ways to put pressure on landlords and the provincial gov- ernment over the increase in rents on the North Shore. sonally believe that Mr. Sander is a man of conscience. | proposed to him through Mr. Andrews to set up some type of review process for hardship cases. They rejected that.’” But said Andrews, “We are running a business here. | don’t see why a tenant in one building should subsidize a tenant in another building.’’ Andrews points to increased mortgage costs and escalating property ‘axes as con- tributing factors leading to rent in- creases.