Site
The site master plan has been developed in direct response to the sustainability principles, and features a deeply integrated approach to the challenges of the steeply sloping site. Design strategies include:
- Creation of fish spawning habitat in damaged (by previous owner) riparian areas
- Replanting the site with indigenous plants to establish and/or repair the many ecosystems found on site
- Local, natural products are incorporated in construction plans such as the crushed oyster shell parking lot instead of non-porous paving materials
- Development of a complex integrated strategy to meet the challenges of the water cycle for domestic, waste, storm, and fire suppression through
- on-site tertiary treatment of all water used on site, The tertiary biological treatment area will reduce the BOD, TSS and TN concentration to less than 10mg/L. The tertiary filtration and UV disinfection area will reduce colloidal material followed by UV disinfection to reduce fecal coliform bacteria to non-detected levels
- reduction of water use through recycling and re-use and rainwater harvesting Rain water will be harnessed and stored for use in low flow water conserving faucets and dual flush toilets thus minimizing the potable water used in the sanitary waste system.
- integrated storm water management including the creation of ponds and manufactured wetlands
- An implementation strategy which includes the incorporation of VIU student input into the project where appropriate, training experiences and on going interpretative functions