Colliery Dam Decision Rebuttal Continues

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Follows is the second in a series of rebuttals to the city of Nanaimo decision to remove the dams at Colliery Park. What Mr. Stead is saying seems plausible, you will have to judge for yourself if it is accurate.

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Mr Mayor, Members of Council, Mr.Kenning, Klohn Crippin Burger KCB), members of the press, MLA's and all of my like minded friends, Ladies and gentlemen,  

I intend to provide rebuttle to the contentions made by Mr. Kenning, Mr.Sims, Susan Clift, Robin J. Fitzgerald and the company of Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB),   to wit, the dams must be destroyed and removed. Kenning and KCB contend that the removal of the dams is necessary to eliminate the extreme risk of flooding, in the event of an extreme seismic event or an extreme weather condition causing the breaching of the dams.

This was announced after an in camera meeting, by council, and then explained at two town community information presentations, which noted  the reasoning for the decision to destroy the dams, and the evacuation plan for the eventuality of this feared extreme event. This is where and when it all started for me.

The first reason was, the inundation study, which noted, by way of a map of the area and the extent of the flooding, and the damage that would occur in Harewood. For comparison, the Oliver Dam flood was used by way of still photographs, depicting the damage done there, as an example of the flooding and destruction to be expected here. This presentation was done by Ms Clift. It is on my first hand knowledge of this presentation that I base my first rebuttle of the three presentations made.

My rebuttle address's the questions 1- is it reasonable and rational to believe, 2- is it credible?

The nagging questions I had right from the start were, how much water would be required for that much flooding and where would it come from. The answer I received was, from the dams collapsing due to an extreme seismic or weather event. Considering that the dams combined capacity was estimated at 266,000 cu meters, and at a glance I could see that the area depicted on the map would take millions of cu meter to inundate, I concluded that the extra water would have to come from the extreme weather event.

I considered that answer to be both unreasonable, irrational and improbable. To my disbelief, the response to my dismay was, this will be a Noah's type of flood. Not being a god fearing man and knowing the real reason for that flood, I just let her carry on. She next explained how the extreme seismic event would cause the dam walls to flip flop, back and forth, and eventually break down,and mix with the water, I was still wondering how that much water was going to do that much flooding, it was at that point that she pulled out the information on the Oliver Dam flood and how it pertained  to the probable flooding of Harewood, due to the debris from the dams, mixing with water, increasing the volumn of the flood.

If you want to read about the Oliver Dam flood, read the next edition, if you are already convinced of the lack of credibility of the inundation report, you can quit any time. My question about where the water will come from has never been answered for me, nor has the flooding which is supposed to occur as a result of a seismic event, thus, I not only judge the inundation report, not credible, I find it incredible.

You be the Judge. If you require more information to be convinced, Read the Oliver Flood report, and ask your self these questions: why wasn't the amount of water needed for the flooding of this area included in the inundation report, why weren't core samplings taken to establish a historical record of previous floods and how long it took to create the flood plain, and if the risk is so great, why hasn't the City adjusted the historic high water mark, a standard for new construction on the flood plain, a building code requirement also, why haven't they begun to raise the road levels and the bridges?

If you aren't convinced yet, give me time, I have a lot more.  

Ron Stead
Nanaimo