Readers write -- SEWAGE COMPOSTING IN THE COMMONAGE

SEWAGE COMPOSTING IN THE COMMONAGE

Over the past three years, many Vernon residents have experienced foul odours in the air and most are unaware of their source. In many cases the odours have been emitted by a sewage compost facility on Commonage Road known as “Ogogrow.” The Ogogrow plant, which is operated by the City of Kelowna, sits on 70 acres (28.35ha) next to Roses Pond - an extremely environmentally sensitive area in the Kalamalka Lake watershed. Nearby residents who were never previously consulted, have repeatedly asked the City of Kelowna to find a more suitable location for its facility. This August, residents received their answer when Kelowna’s new heavy equipment was moved in, Kelowna CUPE members replaced Vernon contract workers, and an additional 6.9 million dollars for expansion was approved. The money is to allow for further expansion to 2017 and accommodate additional sewage from many areas of the Okanagan, meaning this could become the dumping ground for all Central Interior sewage. This despite the fact the City of Kelowna has continually:

(i) Ignored area resident’s concerns for their health and quality of life.
(ii) Ignored their own engineer’s recommendations to protect ground water
(iii) Ignored approved sewage limits by exceeding capacity for over two years
(iv) Continued to store compost directly on the ground in violation of Organic Matter Recycling Guidelines

The turtles that once occupied Roses Pond and numbered in the thousands have now disappeared. Varieties of birds that were perched above the pond are now seldom seen. Area residents are concerned that Kalamalka Lake will be sacrificed next as no consideration has been given to protecting Boltres Creek. A creek that originates next to the compost piles and flows a short distance into Kalamalka Lake.

Despite residents concerns, unresolved problems and little public consultation, Ministry of Environment officials are poised to approve this expansion. If you can please take the time to attend the open house as shown below.

Event date: Thursday, October 15, 2009, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Title: Open House - Regional Compost Facility
Date: 2009-10-15 Time: 5 pm. to 7pm
Location: Vernon City Hall, Okanagan Lake Room

The public is invited to an open house to review upgrade plans to the Regional Compost Facility. The City of Kelowna and the City of Vernon intend to increase capacity of the site at 551 Commonage Road to 36,400 tonnes per year and conduct necessary upgrades to address odours.

For more information please visit no-ogo-grow!

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