Provincial officials are investigating the possible risk of environmental damage from storage of used road paving materials at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s (MOTI) Gilmour Road yard in Elphinstone.
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MECSS) spokesperson Andrew Patrick told Coast Reporter by email that a site inspection had taken place on July 8.
An inspection report was expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks, he said, adding that the finalized report will be sent to MOTI and publicly posted on https://nrced.gov.bc.ca/ after a seven-day wait period.
Concerns about possible risk at the site were raised by a citizen to the Town of Gibsons and discussed at a council meeting on July 13.
The location is in the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) Elphinstone area, near the border with the town. It is within a recharge area of the Gibsons aquifer, the source of drinking water distributed by the town.
On July 15, Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish wrote MECCS requesting it “find a solution” to gaps in communication between the two jurisdictions.
In his letter, Beamish said he wanted to see reports of environmental protection compliance issues include notification to local governments. Beamish wrote that he does not want the town “surprised when informed by a member of the public or worse, when we discover that our drinking water is impacted by contamination which may have been prevented.”
SCRD director for the area, Donna McMahon, told Coast Reporter in a July 14 email that SCRD staff are also following up with the province on the situation. She said she is “hearing more and more concerns from residents about the health of our aquifers, and also our fish-bearing creeks. We rely on property owners to act responsibly and remember that our watersheds are highly connected.”
Gibsons is also planning to pursue discussions about the Gilmour Road site and communication delays with provincial representatives at the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities convention. Requests will be made to schedule meetings with both cabinet ministers and staff during the Sept. 14 to 17 convention. This year’s convention will be held virtually.
