Sooke Mayor Maja Tait is defending a planned tour of European sewage and biosolid processing plants in Europe.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see first hand whatB次元官网网址檚 involved, how they operate B次元官网网址� even if they omit an odor,B次元官网网址� said Tait, chairwoman of the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 Integrated Resource Management Advisory Committee.

The committee , which could also include stops in North America. A final vote on whether the trip goes ahead will go before the CRD board on Wednesday (Sept. 13).

Critics says thereB次元官网网址檚 little value in such a trip. The tour is intended to help directors decide on a method of treating sludge coming from the regionB次元官网网址檚 $765-million sewage-treatment project.

B次元官网网址淲e could use our time and money for better uses,B次元官网网址� said Mike Hicks, electoral area director for the Juan de Fuca.

B次元官网网址淚ntegrated means more than one, so why are we going to a single-source facility in [Europe]? I think theyB次元官网网址檙e hurrying it, and for that reason I voted no,B次元官网网址� Hicks said.

Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell also doesnB次元官网网址檛 like the idea of a European tour.

B次元官网网址淚 spoke out against it and I thought it was a poor use of taxpayersB次元官网网址� money,B次元官网网址� said Atwell. The trip also promises to offer few beneficial insights, because it will examine plants that will hold few if any lessons for the Capital Regional District. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 objective,B次元官网网址� said Atwell.

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But Tait said itB次元官网网址檚 important that both staff and policy makers make an informed decision on dealing with sludge processing.

Tait used the analogy of buying a house. You wouldnB次元官网网址檛 buy a house online or from a document without looking at it first.

If the CRD board approves the trip, five people will go, which includes three politicians, most likely Tait, CRD chairwoman Barb Desjardins and Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton.

The trip will include locations in Germany, Spain, Belgium and France and would cost $8,500 per person.