Following weeks of controversy and overwhelming public opposition, the Town of Innisfail is now looking at different options for the relocation of its waste transfer site.
Following weeks of controversy and overwhelming public opposition, the Town of Innisfail is now looking at different options for the relocation of its waste transfer site.
The town issued a press release Thursday morning (July 24) that stated "recent presentations and expressions of concern" have forced them to reconsider the move of the local dump to town-owned green space beside Westwood Court Mobile Home Park.
The press release said the town's review will include a third option for the location of the waste transfer site - an option the town claims was not feasible until recently.
The review is expected to take the next eight to 10 weeks. The results will then be presented at a public forum where citizens' input will be considered by council before a final decision is made, added the press release.
"I understand and appreciate that this decision is of great interest to many residents. I ask for your patience while we conduct further review and then share our findings with the community,' said Mayor Brian Spiller in the press release.
Meanwhile, the initial reaction of the town's announcement from Westwood, home to about 230 citizens, was positive.
"Wow. I am tickled pink. That is the best news I have had in the past four weeks. I am almost speechless. I am so happy," said Don Corcoran, a Westwood resident and one of the trailer court's leading organizers of protest against the town plan that was approved by council on April 28. "I feel like maybe we have been heard.
"Our resolve was only growing from the recent comments from some councillors," he said, noting some councillors from the July 14 council meeting said they were not swayed to change their minds about moving the dump next to Westwood after hearing a pair of presentations against the plan.
Corcoran said Westwood residents will monitor the town's progress of its review up until the day of the planned public forum. A date and location for the public forum has not yet been announced.
Read the July 29 Innisfail Province for more details on this story.
