A poultry slaughterhouse proposal in south 91原创 received a stern response from Township council.
At the April 9 meeting, council unanimously rejected third reading of Garrett Broatch鈥檚 application to rezone 2.96 acres of his 39.5 acre property at 995 224 St. to facilitate an abattoir and several new barns. Coun. Charlie Fox was absent.
There was an outcry from many neighbours at a public hearing on March 19, who claimed the abattoir could draw thousands of litres of water from the aquifer each week, and create a risk for water contamination.
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鈥淭he size of this operation is far exceeding what should be on land that鈥檚 above an aquifer. In my opinion it should be in an industrial section, so I won鈥檛 be supporting it,鈥� said Coun. Bob Long.
鈥淚 feel like there was just a litany of problems with having this in the ALR, and particularly for me, the lack of business plan and a scope of what they are planning is 鈥� I just don鈥檛 understand how 鈥� we could be supportive of it without any kind of knowledge about what that would look like in the community,鈥� Coun. Petrina Aranson added.
Coun. Angie Quaale said she is concerned that the Ministry of Agriculture could override council鈥檚 decision under 鈥楻ight to Farm鈥� legislation.
鈥淭his application is apparently in compliance with the Ministry of Ag standards, but it is very clear to me that it doesn鈥檛 meet the standards of the community,鈥� she said.
鈥淭his could still happen without our consent so that causes me tremendous concern.鈥�
As a farmer, Coun David Davis said he鈥檚 surprised the application even got before council.
鈥淎s a Township, we have always recognized the value of groundwater. A very large per cent of our groundwater comes from wells, and it鈥檚 all about the water,鈥� Davis said.
鈥淵ou can bring up the 鈥楻ight to Farm,鈥� but all the existing farms around 995 224 St. also have the right to farm. They also have the right to safe, clean drinking water, safe bath time, and to safely provide water for their livestocks or crops. The right to farm means to me actively farming with all normal farm practices 鈥� sights, smells, and sounds. Processing is not the same as farming. Processing requires large amounts of power, hydro truck access, water and proper facilities to compost and to render the byproducts of the chickens. This is not what farmland is intended for. Processing is an industry, this belongs in an industry park.
鈥淓ven the chance of contamination of the aquifer is too much of a gamble for anyone to take 鈥� If we allow this application, and the groundwater is eventually contaminated 鈥� we can鈥檛 fix it. It cannot be fixed,鈥� Davis said.
Both Coun. Kim Richter and Blair Whitmarsh praised Davis for his comments.
鈥淥ne size doesn鈥檛 fit all. I鈥檓 sorry, it shouldn鈥檛 be one size for farming in all of the Township. That鈥檚 just not right and it鈥檚 just not fair. And it鈥檚 particularly not fair when one farmer can push other farmers out of business, because either there鈥檚 no water, or their crops are damaged, or whatever other reason,鈥� Richter said.
鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 belong here and I certainly won鈥檛 be supporting it,鈥� Whitmarsh agreed.
Mayor Jack Froese said that a motion for an abattoir in Surrey recently came across their desks at Metro Vancouver. The application called for an extension of the sewer as part of the abattoir expansion, and it was subsequently approved.
鈥淭his is a little bit different, there is no sewer in that area. The concern that we鈥檝e heard is the groundwater, and it鈥檚 the wastewater that would be produced by this facility. And certainly that鈥檚 one of the main concerns that I have,鈥� Froese said.
鈥淪o the land use in that area without the proper servicing 鈥� and it might be a long time before the servicing gets there 鈥� is one of the reasons I won鈥檛 be supporting this.鈥�
A large crowd had gathered in Township chambers to hear the outcome of third reading, and they applauded council when the application was defeated.
miranda@langleytimes.com
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