Post by John Zeger on Aug 25, 2005 12:00:54 GMT -5
The Daily Courier reports (Aug. 25, 2005) that during a preliminary meeting to discuss the city's application on the proposal to add fill to the lake in order to accommodate the latest plans for Lawson Landing that federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans habitat biologist Bruce Runciman said regarding his department's position, "We typically, historically, don't authorize in-fills for the purpose of property development because of the impact on habitat. Its the exception rather than the rule. Multiple in-fills have an increasing effect of interaction and affecting fish populations. To date, we have not supported the (city's) proposal based on individual and cumulative impacts." However, the DFO will be examining a study commissioned by the city and conducted by EBA Engineering to assess fish habitat and by Hay and Company to assess shoreline movement and the circulation of lake water.
I am a bit disturbed that the DFO is not conducting the study itself as my experience in urban planning has taught me that consultants hired by municipalities are not completely objective in their assessments and merely tell their employers what they want to hear. As a neutral third party is not conducting the study here, how can the DFO and the public be assured of complete objectivity?
I am a bit disturbed that the DFO is not conducting the study itself as my experience in urban planning has taught me that consultants hired by municipalities are not completely objective in their assessments and merely tell their employers what they want to hear. As a neutral third party is not conducting the study here, how can the DFO and the public be assured of complete objectivity?