A new twist in the Serres urbaines Notre-Dame project: the aquaponics complex project is blocked by a city referendum
Sonia Roy
It was during a Gatineau city mandated referendum vote, on April 10, that residents of the Lac-Beauchamp district voted against a motion that would authorize the modification of the zoning of the territory targeted by the aquaponic complex, a modification necessary for its construction.
During an open house event the day before the referendum, the Serres urbaines Notre-Dame (SUN) took the opportunity to introduce their aquaponic complex project to the residents of the neighbourhood by presenting visuals of the future site, a model reconstituting the aquaponic process and, as a sweet surprise, maple taffy on ice. These activities took place on the industrial site (disused parking lot) formerly belonging to Produits forestiers Résolu, which was transferred to SUN for the construction of an aquaponic greenhouse.
Despite all the efforts made by the Serres urbaines Notre-Dame, the result of the referendum, which took place at the local community centre (Comité de vie de quartier du Vieux-Gatineau) on Jean-René-Monette Street, clearly undermined the enthusiasm and mood of a team that has been working on this project for over four years: of the 103 people who had the opportunity to vote, 35 of them voted against the motion to change the zoning required by the SUN initiative, with a turnout of 63 people (out of 65 who showed up at the polls, according to official information from the City of Gatineau). This small number of citizens was enough to block a project whose first phase, already completed, has cost the city $1.9 million. These funds were used to finance the refurbishment of the Marché Notre-Dame building that would house the café-boutique, which would be used, according to the SUN, to sell fresh and local products on an annual basis. This café-boutique, one guesses, would certainly have worked as a distributor for the aquaponics complex. In addition to creating 30 jobs, an aquaponics complex would have supplied the Outaouais region with large quantities of fish and plants, respectively 20 tons and 60 tons per year. This innovative project would have been the first of its kind in Quebec.
The Coopérative de développement régional (CDR) Outaouais-Laurentides mentioned its dismay regarding the referendum result and the vote, which in the end, by law, was available to residents of only two streets. "The Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities has major flaws that the City of Gatineau has never had to deal with before," said Patrick Duguay, Director General of the Outaouais-Laurentides RDC. "It is revolting to see that a law ill-suited to this type of situation leaves the future of a neighborhood of more than 10,000 residents in the hands of a hundred of them. We are sorry that 35 citizens prefer the status quo of devitalization and a disused parking lot." he concluded.
On social networks, opinions are clearly in favour of the aquaponics complex. Many people do not understand the result of the referendum: "What a disappointment... what a frustration to see the "not in my backyard" have so much power over a collective project so promising for a community" says a web user - "All the work done to arrive at this result. It's so sad. It would have been a great project for the neighborhood and the community", said another.
Lyne Bouchard, president of the Serres urbaines Notre-Dame, made these comments via video on the SUN Facebook page: "10 years of work by a loyal team and its collaborators have just been thrown away by 35 people.［...］One of the greenest food security projects in Quebec has been rejected by 35 people. This is a very big disappointment." According to the information shared by Ms Bouchard, this refusal to consider the project is based on a small number of citizens who refuse any discussion regarding the site targeted by the SUNs. It is with visible emotion that the latter concludes, after having warmly thanked the many collaborators and actors of this file, "[...］I wish the neighbourhood good luck in order to find a project as mobilizing and promising as this one. I wish the residents to stay together, because this area definitely needs some love."
Photo caption: The Serres urbaines Notre-Dame site affected by the zoning change at 20 Main St.
Photo credit: Sonia Roy