Summerland says no to biosolid compost site

It was a resounding no from Summerland council Monday night as councillors voted against a proposal by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) to build a biosolid composting facility at the local landfill.

“Our citizens, although it may have been a long and painful process for some of them, should be congratulated,” Summerland resident Kathy Smith said. “We should all be celebrating with our council of democracy in action.”

It was standing-room only at Monday night’s council meeting as residents lined up at the podium to voice their reasons for opposing the project.

“The primary issues were traffic of course and odor,” Summerland resident Grant Thompson said. “Nobody wants to solve Penticton’s problems by shipping sewage from Penticton, Osoyoos, Oliver here.”

Residents also expressed concerns about the possible risk to their drinking water should the facility be built.

Councillors heard the opposition loud and clear and in the end all, with the exception of the mayor, voted against granting the RDOS access to the landfill for any further feasibility studies.

While the decision is being seen as a victory, residents are not letting their guards down just yet.

“It could easily go back to the regional district, they tweak their product and send the spin and send it back to us,” Thompson said. “So we will be hanging on to our signs.”