Watch: Shawnigan Lake residents fight against contaminated soil dump site

A plan to turn a Vancouver Island rock quarry into a dump site for contaminated soil is polarizing the community of Shawnigan Lake.

Proponents argue the plan would generate less pollution than trucking the contaminated soil all the way to disposal sites on the Lower Mainland, but others are still fighting the project, fearing the possible contamination of their local drinking water.

According the permit, granted by the ministry of environment, South Island Aggregates Ltd can truck in 100,000 tons of contaminated soil per year for fifty years, but some residents fear the material won’t stay there.

The matter is now before the environmental appeal board, a last resort for this community.

In a statement, South Island Aggregates Ltd says it “has continuously improved its design throughout the process and operation is heavily monitored…We are confident all concerns of our neighbours and community have been addressed.”

While the permit is currently active, the soil coming in is restricted by the environment appeal board’s stay order, until the process is complete.

But the community isn’t taking any chances.

The letters with concerns will be sent to cabinet ministers who hold the power to overturn the appeal decision.

The hearings are expected to run until April 6.