Community initiative to halt expansion of the local Catalyst industrial waste dump.
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City Council?

To Powell River Legacy group:

Why does the City Council not take a stand on this issue? What are their individual views? This is an issue of great concern to the residents of Powell River and yet I've only heard the viewpoint of one newly elected councillor. Where are the Mayor and the other councillors on this issue. Isn't it their job to represent us?

Reply from the PR Legacy group:

Your question is one that many of us also would like to know the answers. Whenever we have asked the mayor and council any question about this landfill, we have never received an answer. We have asked these questions of coucil at the few neighbourhood sessions they have held, and the council doesn't see any role for themselves in this question. it''s hard to know where council stands on this issue, except to know that mayor and council have not championed the concerns of the citizens.

An example of the questionable position that mayor and council have adopted is illustrated in a zoning problem with a portion of the landfill site itself. Most of the site in zoned ''M-3 Heavy Industry", but one corner of the landfill has been built on land which is zoned "A-2 Resource". This zoning anomally has been pointed out to both the City and Catalyst. Catalyst claims that they have asked the City that it be rezoned M-3, but that the City has advised them that a rezoning need not take place because the waste comes from a forestry resource. This is despite the fact that waste asbestos is also stored there---waste asbestos is classified as a ''hazardous waste'' by the Province of B.C. So, Catalyst's position is to state that they have tried to do the ''right thing'' but have been prevented by the City. When the City is asked for their explanation, they say they are still waiting for Catalyst to apply to rezone the land. Who is telling the truth? Certainly our mayor and council are in no hurry to even discuss this issue. ---can you feel the frustration?

go well,

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