The District of Sechelt will craft a new odour control bylaw and start negotiating with neighbouring districts in an effort to resolve cross-boundary odour issues.
Sechelt council voted in favour of two recommendations to that effect on Oct. 7 during a regular council meeting, after constituents brought forward several noxious odour complaints relating to the East Porpoise Bay area.
At the Sept. 30 planning and community development committee meeting, a staff report on the issue was presented to council, complete with a petition signed by 42 people requesting that an odour bylaw be crafted.
The staff report also included four individual letters to the District from residents who claimed that “the stench emanating from the composting practices of Salish Soils … is sickening” and that “the odour is extremely offensive to the point of being nauseating.”
One letter described the smell as being like “sour manure” or “sweaty sour socks.”
From that Sept. 30 meeting, a motion was made that council commence negotiations with the Sunshine Coast Regional District, Vancouver Coastal Health and the Sechelt Nation with the aim to resolve the odour issues.
However, when the recommendation came to the regular council meeting on Oct. 7 to be voted on, Coun. Doug Wright said it didn’t go far enough.
“I guess what I would like to see for the District of Sechelt is to take the lead on this and to draft the bylaw for odour control within our own district and have that as a template that can be used throughout the negotiations with these other groups,” Wright said. “I think we should just step forward and do this on our own.”
Coun. Darren Inkster agreed.
“We probably have to, rather than negotiate and move in that direction with a number of different groups, bring in our own bylaw unilaterally because of the concerns being expressed in our community,” Inkster said.
“I hope we can move in that direction.”
Coun. Alice Lutes said discussion with the various parties was important.
“Odour doesn’t stop at an imaginary border, and some of the odour issues are from outside the District of Sechelt,” Lutes said. “So unless we have the discussion with the other levels and come upon a workable agreement, no bylaw’s going to work.”
When the vote was called, council passed the motion to begin negotiations and then Inkster moved that Sechelt craft its own odour bylaw as well.
“What we’re hearing is that there are some concerns now in the District of Sechelt with some odours, and I think if we put a bylaw in place, that’s what people are asking for,” Inkster said.
All but Lutes and Coun. Noel Muller were in favour and the motion passed.
