The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is deferring plans to conduct one more public meeting and a phone survey to gather opinion on the future of the Pender Harbour landfill.
Area A director Eric Graham moved that the plans be referred back to another committee in light of a petition received by the board on Thursday, Nov. 12, and some pending meetings he has with property owners around Sakinaw Lake.
Garden Bay resident Wendy Milner presented the petition with 250 names, mostly of Area A landowners, supporting the transfer station option.
"It's to show that our community has come forward to say we do want a transfer station and possibly to save the community's money by not having to do a phone survey," she said.
Milner also pointed out that many residents use only cell phones or do not answer calls from unrecognized numbers, making it difficult to conduct a reliable survey.
The Pender Harbour landfill is nearing its provincially permitted capacity and must either be expanded or converted to a transfer station within two years.
Area resident Phil Ragan attended the meeting with Milner and stated there has been a significant shift in opinion on the landfill in Area A.
"I think when we first started the process in the summer time when there was not a lot of information available, there was some support there for a landfill. As we have progressed and the regional district has made specific efforts to ensure that there was clarity as to what the transfer station option is, there has been a tremendous shift to the transfer station option," he said.
Ragan reiterated Milner's point that a public survey may not be necessary, given the change in popular opinion and that they would continue collecting names for the petition.
"If you tell us how many names you want, we will get them for you," he said.
