City of Powell River councillors wasted no time supporting a funding application for a composting project at the old incinerator site.
At the Wednesday, June 30 special city council meeting, councillors considered a proposal from Powell River Regional District (PRRD). Marie Claxton, acting chief administrative officer for the city, said the regional district was asking the council to consider lending its support for a grant application under the new Building Canada Funding Program. Money would be used toward the development of an organics composting facility at the city’s former incinerator and waste transfer site. The PRRD wanted the city to provide a letter authorizing the regional district to proceed with the project and application.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway, also a city representative on the regional board, said it was a really good proposal.
“I like it and it’s something we need,” she said. “With the new MMBC (Multi Material BC) and how it takes only some recycling, they [the regional district] are looking at a project that would create employment and we could do it all ourselves. It would be a made-for-Powell River solution.”
While she was in favour of the project’s concept, Hathaway said she has a little hesitation with the regional district asking for the authority to proceed with the project.
“I would want to lend a letter of support but not actual authority to proceed with the project until we see the paperwork,” she said.
Councillor Jim Palm, the other city director on the regional board, said the request before city council was a funding application and money is required for the organic composting facility to proceed.
“If they are successful it gives us an opportunity to take a closer look,” he said. “We have other initiatives planned for the site being worked on, such as botanical gardens. To get the ball rolling, this is a good first start.”
Palm said he and Hathaway endorsed the proposal at the regional board table and he thinks it is a great initiative.
Mayor David Formosa asked about discussion regarding the botanical garden. He said the land in question is large and he believes the botanical garden and organic composting facility could co-exist there.
Hathaway said some of the composting that would be carried out at the site would be used in the botanical gardens. The matter was discussed at the regional board table, Hathaway told the mayor.
Palm said the project would also be helpful to the regional district’s Let’s Talk Trash team furthering its work.
Councillor Debbie Dee said when she toured a community composting project in Whistler, which wasn’t in the middle of the town such as the site in Powell River, there was an odour, so for her that was a concern, given the proposed site’s proximity to Willingdon Beach.
Dee also said she would like the city to lend support to the application but not give permission to proceed.
Council unanimously carried a motion to endorse the Powell River Regional District’s grant application toward the development of an organics composting facility at the former incinerator site. The city will send the regional district a letter authorizing the PRRD to proceed with the project application.
