According to the Sooke News Mirror our Regional Director Mike Hicks says that the proposed composting facility in Shirley “has merit if it cannot be seen or heard.” That sure sounds to me like he has his mind made up about approving this application which would be totally against the clearly stated wishes of his constituents.
Mr. Hicks was at the December 6th community information meeting in Shirley where there was a near unanimous vote by the residents of Shirley and Jordan River that they were totally opposed to this facility being located in this area. In a clear voice the community said that this proposal is simply an inappropriate use of land in this community and should not be allowed to proceed.It would change the nature and the character of this community in a negative way.
Accordingly any talk about increased jobs, new tax revenue, or any other amenities from the proposed project is simply irrelevant when the proposed land use is clearly inappropriate for this community.
Like Sooke we want to build our community based upon the natural environment. Shirley and Jordan River seek to grow in a sustainable way based on our parks, beaches, trails, commercial and recreational fishing, responsible forestry, and tourism and recreational activities.
The CRD has created a problem by banning food scraps from the regional landfill. That problem is not solved by trucking that garbage through Sooke and Otter Point to a composting dump in Shirley Jordan River.
Mr. Hicks needs to listen carefully to and follow the wishes of his constituents in Shirley Jordan River or his political legacy will be “the politician who brought the garbage disposal industry to Shirley Jordan River”.
Guy McDannold
Shirley