A private Metchosin property where someone was fined years ago for clear-cutting has been looking more and more like a commercial landfill operation in recent years, according to residents.
Jay Shukin said B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 really good to seeB次元官网网址� inspectors in the area in recent days. The inspectors appeared to check the soil quality on the property, which has been under investigation by the district over the years for illegal dumping.
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said files of the investigation would finally be available to be released this month. He explained heB次元官网网址檚 under strict advisement from the districtB次元官网网址檚 lawyer to not speak about the investigation in case it jeopardizes enforcement.
Several residents reported seeing more than 20 trucks on a single day in June bringing in material to dump in the excavated valley. Resident Mark Atherton said he suspected the hole went a few dozen feet deep and reported seeing drywall being dumped there, which is banned.
ALSO READ: Metchosin residents question council on bylaw enforcement
Ranns said gathering evidence and active enforcement that involved Captial Regional District inspectors on B次元官网网址渜uasi-criminalB次元官网网址� investigation has been a B次元官网网址渟lowB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渓engthyB次元官网网址� process that has been deterred multiple times B次元官网网址渙n the road to getting complianceB次元官网网址� from the resident.
He admitted being reluctant to litigate the issue because neighbour disputes are the B次元官网网址渕ost difficult to deal with.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e not careful in how you undertake investigations. You can generate serious animosity between neighbours, and that often makes things worse.B次元官网网址�
A stop work order was issued last year when municipal staff felt that the 2,000 cubic metre soil deposit permit might have been exceeded, Ranns noted. That halted operations and there has been no recent activity reported by residents.
ALSO READ: Metchosinites fill up Community Hall for land swap town hall
Residents have come to council worried for years over the health risk the dumping poses to the well water, which many residents in the rural municipality rely on. The fill zone near Mount Ash has been a sore spot for the rural district since 2012.
Metchosin has had meetings with the concerned residents and assured them about checking water contamination in separate meetings. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a serious one, that weB次元官网网址檙e taking seriously,B次元官网网址� Ranns said.
ALSO READ: Airbnb announcement throws Metchosin into limbo
The general lack of trust with government has been difficult to deal with, which social media has made worse, Ranns said. The issue has led to contentious council meetings with residents, where residents complained lack of trust with the district while councillors have not been allowed to respond, he said.
B次元官网网址淭hey are free to impugn our character and our capability, and we are not in a position to respond to that, and it has been frustrating.B次元官网网址�
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
