Editor:
At the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) infrastructure committee meeting of Feb. 11, the committee recommended closure of the Pender landfill site. It seems to me (and to over 800 people in our community) to be a very short-sighted decision.
To close the best and potentially only alternative to the Sechelt landfill could prove to be an extremely costly mistake.
From an SCRD staff report of Nov. 26: "Avail-able remaining site life [of the Sechelt landfill] is reduced from previous estimates to 18 to 20 years."
Now we will have the waste from Pender further reducing its lifespan. It's almost impossible to create new landfill space. Ask the residents of Powell River who have to ship everything out by barge. This is not just an Area A issue. Municipal and rural reps should really re-consider this decision from their own local perspective for the future.
We also have the issue of compacted waste trundling along the highway through Sechelt. Did Mayor Inkster consult with his community and council on these issues before casting the deciding vote?
The SCRD can nit-pick the wording of our 820-name petition all they want, but the fact is most residents signed it for one clear reason: to keep the Pender facility open. I know I did. During the last election 36 per cent (754 voters) participated. To dismiss a petition with 39 per cent (820) signatures shows very little respect for this community.
Considering these reasons and many others, I would respectfully request reconsideration of the committee recommendation and more consultation on this most important decision that affects the entire Sunshine Coast.
John Rees
Madeira Park
