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Public comment period for waste station closing

Callaghan Valley only viable option

Though skeptical at first that the Callaghan Valley was the best place for Whistler’s waste transfer station, Councillor Eckhard Zeidler is now convinced otherwise.

After re-examining every single site that was on municipal staff’s short list, Zeidler is satisfied the Callaghan is Whistler’s only viable option.

"I would like to have said that I found a site that was better than the one that we have proposed," said Zeidler, "but I didn’t. One by one I had to cross the other prospective sites off my list for varieties of reasons. So I’m satisfied that that site in the Callaghan is the best one for our needs."

But that doesn’t change the fact that he remains concerned that there is still no master plan in place for the Callaghan Valley. Meanwhile, commercial land tenure applications for the area are coming before the province for approval and Zeidler worries about their cumulative impact and how they will change one of Whistler’s most beloved recreational areas.

"That the Callaghan Valley is changing rapidly is clear but… I think the people of the community, and the people in this corridor, would like to see what the plan looks like for when it’s finished and we’re not being given that opportunity," he said.

As far as the waste transfer station goes, the Callaghan was chosen after staff explored nine other options. It is on Crown land and so an application to build the $2.6 million station is now before the Integrated Land Management Bureau. Members of the public will be allowed to comment on the application until Thursday, Aug. 10. Submit comments to the Senior Land Officer at 200-10428 153 rd Street, Surry. BC. V3R 1E1.

If successful the municipality will begin site preparation immediately so as not to interfere with work on the 2010 Olympic athletes’ village. The current transfer station and the old landfill are on the village site.

An open house will be held in the fall on the design of the new station.