Photo: Google Street View
The proposed pellet plant would be constructed next to the Tolko plant in Lavington.
The proposed pellet plant would be constructed next to the Tolko plant in Lavington.
After six hours worth of public hearings and deliberations, Coldstream Council left Monday night's meeting having approved a rezoning request for a new pellet plant in Lavington.
The lengthy public hearing, which ended just before midnight, was the
last chance for members of the public to speak out about the proposed
39 million dollar facility to be built through a conditional partnership
between Tolko Industries and Pinnacle Renewable Energies.
Despite weeks of public hearings, a petition to stop the plant, and
public outcry, council gave its approval by a slim 4-3 margin on the
third reading of the rezoning application.
Councillors Doug Dirk, Gyula Kiss and Richard Enns opposed the rezoning.
Kiss says the marathon of public hearings led him to believe that the
public, the people who voted him in, unequivocally wanted the plant to
be denied a place in their town.
Photo: Google Street View
Residents have fought the idea, saying the plant will raise air quality concerns next door to an elementary school.
“I didn't think at first I would vote against the plant itself because they had a reasonably good case,” explains Kiss.
“But, the biggest problem is that almost all the people that came from Lavington, who live around the plant, opposed it.
“The fact is that I am a representative of the people who elect me
and I am supposed to actually look after their interests, and what they
want.”
The biggest complaint has come from nearby residents who feel air
emissions from the plant will be a health hazard for residents and
children attending Lavington Elementary, situated next door to the
facility.
Kiss says that while he feels the pollution created by the pellet
plant would be minimal, he believes pollution levels in that area are
already high enough and any additional pollution created would put
levels above the safety threshold.
“The proposed plant is only 300 metres from the school and this is
the biggest worry, that the kids there will be exposed to the additional
pollution.”
In fact, Kiss says he and his late wife got cancer decades ago
because of a pulp mill in Prince George. His wife later died from that
cancer.
“I have a little more empathy for people who feel their health may be
influenced by the pollution created by manufacturing,” adds Kiss.
Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick says the decision will go to a fourth
and final reading next week. Garlick wants to point out that all public
input on the proposed plant is now closed.
“At this time council receives no more input on the application, from either side,” says Garlick.
While it appears the rezoning application will be approved by
Coldstream Council, the pellet plant still has a few more hurdles to
cross – including approval from the Ministry of Transportation, an
environmental permit on emissions, and further building permits before
construction can begin.
Note: Association between my cancer and the pulp mill effluent was just a conjecture and cannot be verified!
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