Columbia Shuswap Regional District staff are thinking ahead.
Ben Van Nostrand, environmental health team leader, got board support for the potential purchase of a 20-acre site to expand the Salmon Arm Landfill.
“Siting a new landfill or any viable alternatives, will be extremely challenging when the current airspace is exhausted (in approximately 50 years),” Van Nostrand told directors. “The option to secure land now, adjacent to an existing site and for a cost that can be acquired from existing capital reserves supports the long-term sustainability of the CSRD’s solid waste management program.”
Following an in-camera discussion, the board authorized authorized signatories to enter into a purchase agreement with Mounce Construction Ltd. for the 20 acre parcel of land located at 2750 40 Street SE for the amount of $750,000 plus applicable taxes.
The acquisition, which will take place on or before Jan. 31, 2018, is subject to the property being successfully rezoned to comply with the City of Salmon Arm’s official community plan.
“That is the critical condition to the purchase,” said CSRD chief administrative officer Charles Hamilton. “We will be working with the city in the fall and will be hiring an agent to deal with the zoning and land-use matters.”
Additional stipulations for vacating the property, transferring funds, closing dates and insurance details have also been negotiated.
The matter was discussed briefly at the Aug. 13 City of Salmon Arm council meeting, at which time Coun. Kevin Flynn pointed out the application has been submitted for rezoning and Ministry of Environment (MOE) would have to approve a zoning amendment before it can be adopted.
In other landfill news, the regional district recently signed a contract with Shuswap Bird of Prey to provide bird control to mitigate risks to aircraft at the adjacent airport.
The local company ]has just completed its fifth year of service at the landfill.
“The company has been excellent to work with, has been diligent in their duties and has provided value-added education to students on CSRD-led tours of the Salmon Arm Landfill,” wrote Van Nostrand in his report to the board.
The CSRD and the City of Salmon Arm developed a wildlife management plan in 2008 according to Transport Canada regulations. The plan identified a number of recommendations to improve safety measures for aircraft using the airport, including a falconry harassment program to deter birds from frequenting the landfill site.