WWQP Bulletin Board Chat

Building on questionable land

Marion, the splash of pansies is uplifting in an otherwise disturbing post. I glance at the papers, I don't watch television so I'm appreciative of reading about incidents here. How frightening to be going about your business at home (and posting to the chat board, actually) only to find you are in the midst of yet another earthquake. Your comments about the Marshlands and draining them to allow building in Christchurch brought to mind the flooding problems of rivers like the Mississipi; the Red River in Winnipeg, Canada, the homes lost in the New Orleans hurricane where buildings were allowed to be built where they shouldn't be.

It also brought to mind the comment of my real estate broker twenty-three years ago when I was selling my home in downtown (east) Oakville, that part of Oakville that I call 'boutique-town'. It is on Lake Ontario, many lovely homes in East Oakville along with an upscale shopping area. Yet, the agent said, hundreds of years ago when the Indians were settled in the area, they would only come down off the bluff where they lived to trade on the flat land below. The flat land had many underground streams running through it and miasma was a concern. Yet, many years later, homes and businesses were allowed to be built on this lowland. Oddly enough, the people who live there can suffer greatly from allergies, although, the oil refinery to the west would add to it.

It must be more than unnerving for everyone living in and around Christchurch. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Rosey

posted by RoseyP @ 5:35 PM