City of Powell River councillors are disappointed the Let’s Talk Trash team has withdrawn its request for $5,000 to produce a series of videos on the resource-recovery centre to be built at the old incinerator site.
In a letter to city council, reviewed at the Tuesday, April 16, committee of the whole meeting, Let’s Talk Trash stated that after council meetings regarding the subject, and subsequent media coverage, the perception of the public and mayor and council is that the Marine Avenue landfill site is not the responsibility of the city. The letter stated this misconception has led some residents to respond negatively and Let’s Talk Trash does not want to be seen as taking money from the city when the inference is that qathet Regional District, which is spearheading the resource-recovery centre project, is not offering support.
City councillors expressed disappointment that the request was being withdrawn.
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman said she was disappointed there was some backlash from misinformation that circulated on social media and the way the story was covered. She said she reached out to the regional district to get clarification for council’s understanding of the situation and the seeming lack of understanding that the closure of the incinerator site was the city’s jurisdiction. She read a letter from BC Ministry of Environment to the regional district that indicates it is the city’s land and the city’s permit.
“The ministry of environment dictates the city is responsible,” said Leishman.
“I was disappointed there was so much pushback from council about $5,000 from the climate action reserve fund for this project that is going to improve our communication to the public on this landfill closure that is starting now,” said Leishman.
She said Let’s Talk Trash wants to maintain its integrity and does not want any negativity, so they are going to find the funding elsewhere.
Councillor Jim Palm said he believes everyone on council is aware of whose responsibility the waste transfer site is.
He said it was unfortunate Let’s Talk Trash has made the decision based on negative feedback or whatever happened on social media.
“I just want to say to the Let’s Talk Trash team that it certainly wasn’t anything directed at their fine work in the community,” said Palm. “We value everything they do and we witnessed that this weekend, their presentation at the AVICC [Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities] was well received. I’m a little disappointed this letter came forward because I wanted to see this happen.”
He said he did not want to pay the full $5,000 because the regional district should be paying, also. He said, however, the city was prepared to pay the full $5,000 if the regional district did not kick in.
Councillor George Doubt also said he was disappointed to see the team withdrawing the proposal. He said if one follows social media, they will see a lot of negativity, but it does not, in his mind, reflect the general public’s opinion most of the time.
He said it is important to recognize the cleanup is being taken care of by all taxpayers in the community, both city and regional district.
“It’s a cooperative project in cleaning up the site and putting in a resource-recovery centre that is going to be good for everybody in our larger community,” said Doubt. “The videos to document the project and show other people what can be done could reduce our trash and reduce our carbon footprint and be a positive thing for the environment. It would have been a good thing to do.”
