Fix sewage overflow, fishermen tell council

Five oyster fishermen lined the back wall during the meeting of Charlottetown city council Monday night.

'Infrastructure money goes other places. That's what really gets me.' — Stan Casey, oyster fisherman

The fishermen are upset about the repeated closures of their fishing grounds around Charlottetown Harbour. Every time there is a heavy rain, the sewage plant overflows, contaminating the water.

With his fishing grounds closed, Stan Casey has been working to spread the word about the problem.

"If I've got to walk for miles, handing out flyers and that, I will," said Casey.

The trouble stems from an outdated section of the city sewers, where the sanitary and storm drain systems are combined. Heavy rain can then overwhelm the treatment plant, and raw sewage flows into the harbour.

The group asked Coun. Mitchell Tweel to raise questions about progress to upgrade the city's sewage plant. Casey said the fishing closures are a concern for both fishermen and the general public.

"This should be the number one priority of all three levels of government," he said.

"Infrastructure money goes other places. That's what really gets me. Why not fix the problem?"

Coun. Edward Rice, chair of the water and sewer utility committee, agrees some other city spending should be reconsidered.

"Nothing should come to a halt completely, but the priorities are going to have to be established," said Rice.

He said it will take up to three years and over $24 million to fix the sewage plant.

Casey said if the city doesn't get its act together soon he'll have to haul in his oyster boat for good.