East Ladner residents have had their lives disrupted -- and for what?
That was among the comments coming from Delta council Monday during the latest discussion on the ongoing issue involving the stench coming from the Enviro-Smart compost operation, a situation councillors say has been made worse by a complete lack of action from the Agricultural Land Commission.
After asking the commission eight months ago to look into the issue, including the operation’s compliance with the Agricultural Land Reserve, a reply was received last Friday stating the ALC didn’t have enough information. The commission suggested it would send someone out for a site visit in the near future.
That letter prompted sharp comments from staff who have been dealing with the matter as well as council, expressing their frustration about the lack of action from the commission and other levels of government.
“To say I’m disappointed in the reply is a serious understatement. It’s about eight months in the making, eight months of waiting… this should have taken them three weeks,” said corporate services director Sean McGill.
He went on to say, “It is beyond my comprehension. I can’t express how frustrated I am to get a letter like this after eight months.”
Mayor Lois Jackson agreed, calling it “really, really shocking” that the ALC isn’t able to do its job.
“It’s unconscionable. The people in the community are counting on us and yet the Agricultural Land Commission and their response is totally inadequate to handle these things,” she said.
Coun. Bruce McDonald said he’s never seen anything so incompetent. In fact, he’s almost ready to call it downright negligence, he said.
“Fifteen hundred families and their lives have been disrupted… and for what? For an industrial composting system that’s been put in place,” he said.
Delta staff also received a report regarding the 72nd Street compost facility’s compliance with the city’s zoning. Facility owner Green For Life recently provided information stating the operation is in compliance with the city’s zoning bylaw requirement that at least one per cent of raw material being composted must originate on the site. A recent letter by GFL director Brian King to the city states that, using 2017 data, the actual amount was 2.5 per cent.
A consultant for the city reviewing the composting operation concluded the compost operation is non-compliant.
Coun. Robert Campbell said it appears to be a case of “two dueling agrologists” and that the ALC should be the arbitrator. He wonders if the ALC currently has “bureaucratic reluctance” dealing with the matter directly since the commission is undergoing changes.
The city will send letters to the agriculture minister, Metro Vancouver and others hoping for resolution.
