Thank you to everyone that came out in a peaceful protest today against South Island Aggregates.
I would like to make clear we as a community do not have a fight with the truckers who are just doing a job. We wish they chose a better job but it is the government permit we are against and this seems to be the only way to get attention about the destruction of our watershed.
This is a 50-year permit but after just three months we had breaches that saw rainwater running directly off the contaminated soil pile and into Shawnigan Creek, which feeds our lake.
They have tried to use sand bags to “contain” and redirect rain water but it is not working.
Shawnigan Lake, with 12,000 residents, may be small but how many people from Victoria and elsewhere come and enjoy the lake in the summer? Rent cabins, visit family, ski on the lake?
That will all be gone. The community will die as people will get sick from the toxins they cannot control or contain.
Think about it, people in Victoria, because Sooke Lake is so close and aquifers go where they want.
Join us, stand with us against a government that doesn’t care about protecting our clean water source.
Fresh water is a human necessity and we are being denied that.
Cathy Bhandar
Shawnigan Lake