Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 25, 2009 7:00 PM
Emotions could be raw as a controversial issue goes before Grindrod residents today.The Ministry of Agriculture will hold a public meeting from 7 to 10 p.m. at Grindrod Elementary to discuss a proposed animal waste composting facility on Monks Road.Many residents are opposed, but the proponent insists there is a need for the plant and all efforts are being taken to ensure the integrity of the environment.“They say we will pollute the Shuswap River but we won’t,” said Dave Robertson, who owns the property.“There won’t be leachate from the site.”
Robertson says today’s meeting will be an opportunity for residents to find out more about the proposal and to get information from experts on animal waste composting.“What I’m doing is legal and better than burying them in the ground,” he said.If the facility is approved by the provincial government, the waste would be collected from slaughterhouses and retail stores, and the compost would be spread on the farm as fertilizer. However, some residents claim waterways and adjacent land could be contaminated by waste containing antibiotics. They are also concerned about animal attractants and odours coming from the facility.“This is show-down time,” said Karen Dittloff, spokeswoman for a group of concerned citizens, of the meeting.
But while she expects a large turnout, she is disappointed in the format established by the ministry.“They’re only allowing us 50 minutes to ask questions. Out of three hours, we get 50 minutes,” she said.“It could say that they don’t care what we have to say.”Dittloff says that the Splatsin First Nation is also concerned about the impact of the facility and it’s anticipated band representatives will be at the meeting.A 1,100-name petition opposing the proposal was recently presented to MLA George Abbott.
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