Councillors voted Monday to dump the idea of a compost facility at the Summerland landfill.

A group of residents cheered the decision, which denied the RDOS permission to access the landfill to carry out technical studies for the controversial site.

Council voted 6 – 1 to slam the door in the face of the RDOS, with Mayor Peter Waterman casting the lone vote to grant access.

“I really am convinced that the RDOS can re-look at the sites they consider, it doesn’t have to be a landfill. If they come back with a report and say ‘Hey, look we tried,’ with a really full explanation, then I would consider it,” said Councillor Richard Barkwill.

There were not enough chairs in the room for all the community members who showed up to voice their concerns about the proposed compost facility.

“The only viable option for Summerland, would be to inform the RDOS that Summerland is not in favour of exploring this option anymore,” declared a local resident.

“I do not think the RDOS opportunity is a Summerland opportunity. I do not believe traveling to any kind of consolidated compost and biosolids site should be through a community,” said Coun. Janet Peake. “I think there has to be other properties available elsewhere.”

A number of Summerland Councillors suggested that the compost site be placed well away from population, possibly somewhere off the Okanagan Connector.

 

Source: Castanet