CSCA letter re: Nov 21 Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting

Dear City of Ottawa Councillors and Mayor Sutcliffe,

The Carlsbad Springs Community Association (CSCA) is not

supportive of establishing and maintaining a City Landfill Site in the

middle of our Community.

The current location of the proposed Capital Region Resource Recovery

Centre (CRRRC) is located within the centre of our rural community and

will have incredibly negative impacts on the rural residents that reside

within our area.

Firstly, the environmental degradation that our community has navigated

over the last 5 years remains a key factor in the environmental

sustainability of our area. Deforestation activities, garbage dumping and

extreme residential development demonstrates the willingness for the City

of Ottawa to turn a blind eye to the environmental sustainability and the

plight of our region. Adding more additional stress to our vulnerable

ecosystem is unreasonable and irresponsible to the residents in Carlsbad

Springs.

Having access to clean drinking water is a Human Right. Many of our

residents still rely on well-water for their homes and will feel the direct

impact of any potential landfill in the close vicinity of their water sources.

Soil degradation and habitat destruction are also major factors that will

impact the natural life within our community. Toxic chemicals and heavy

metals can accumulate in the soil, reducing its soil fertility and potentially

entering the food chain through crops and livestock. Considering that we

are a farming community - it is important that we recognize the threat to our

agricultural and natural systems.

Secondly, there are major health concerns for our residents that would be

forced to reside next to a landfill facility. Air pollution will increase the

likelihood of respiratory problems, such as exacerbate asthma, bronchitis,

and other chronic respiratory problems. Long-term exposure to

carcinogenic substances typically found in landfill sites leads to increased

risk of certain cancers, which include lung and bladder cancer.

Thirdly, the socio-economic impacts and road infrastructure in our area will

be a major problem. The presence of a landfill in a community often leads

to a decline in local property values and makes properties harder to sell.

The central location of the site within our community means that school

buses that transport our children will pass by the potential landfill twice a

day, and so will residents when accessing facilities like the post office,

restaurants, and stores. Additionally, the increased traffic of heavy trucks,

noise from machinery, and wind-blown litter will create ongoing

disturbances and pollute our properties.

We ask that the City of Ottawa not establish a landfill site in the middle of

our community and respect our needs and rights to live in a healthy rural

setting. We ask that the Mayor and City Councillors stop neglecting our

community members and the needs of our rural residents. While we live in

a rural community, we are members of the City of Ottawa and should have

the same rights and privileges to access healthy and clean-living

environments like our urban-residing neighbours.

The CSCA will continue to strongly advocate for our rural residents, our

ecosystem and the sustainability of our area and ask to be heavily involved

in future decision-making processes for our community.

CSCA President - Adrian Becea