Owners of local compost facility will appeal on June 19 a stop work order issued by the Agricultural Land Commission earlier this year.
On Jan. 30 a stop work order was issued to Gordon James Rendle and Robert Roderick Rendle of Foundation Organics Ltd. and Stanhope Dairy Farm by the ALC’s CEO Richard Bullock. The stop work order came on the heels of ongoing issues and complaints regarding the composting facility that have spanned the last handful of years.
On March 31, the ALC received word that the stop work order would be appealed by the family and the hearing is now slated for June 19 with a location to be determined.
“We appreciate that the ALC is planning to conduct the hearing in the Victoria area, as this will allow the appellants, interveners and other interested parties to observe the proceedings with less inconvenience,” said Central Saanich Mayor Alastair Bryson, who added that both the CRD and the municipality applied for intervener status in the appeal.
In August of 2013, the Capital Regional District suspended the facility’s operating license after hundreds of complaints to the CRD, the ALC and the municipality and numerous warning notices from the CRD regarding foul odours emanating from the facility.
In January, the B.C. Supreme Court upheld the CRD’s suspension of Foundation Organics’ operating license and in November of 2013 the ALC released a report on the operation that deemed it was operating outside of allowable farm use and that it was in contravention of the Agricultural Land Commission Act.
Watch www.alc.gov.bc.ca for the announcement of the June 19 appeal hearing location.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com