Holyrood composter a great idea but wrong place, says resident

Acouncil committee inHolyroodhasrecommendedturningdown a private company's plan to build an industrial composting business in theSalmonierLine area due to zoning issues.

I'm sure that we would be able to smell that900 metrictonnesof decaying flesh.- Mark Lane

Holyrood resident Mark Lane thinks composting is a good idea,but ishappy with the recommendation.

"I certainly support it ... fantastic idea, great idea, just not the right place."

"I'm sure that we would be able to smell that 900 metrictonnesof decaying flesh," Lane told CBC.

Residential zoning

Metro Environmental Services ofHeart's Desire is proposing to buildan industrialcompostingfacilityat theintersection of the Trans-Canada Highway andSalmonierLine.

The location lies within Holyrood'smunicipalboundaries.

In a statement, the town saidthe proposed locationis zoned for "future residential development."

Therefore, its planning and development committee deemedit "would be contrary to this land use zone and theHolyroodmunicipal plan."

The proponent, Heart's Desire businessmanTerrancePenney,sayshis land is zoned agriculturaland he was there first, not the council with its new ideas.

His plan is to develop only sixof the 300 acres he owns.

Organic operation

The operation wouldcompost organic wastefrom animal farms and the food industry.

The waste including mink and slaughterhouse offal, dead birds, poultry feathers and carcasses as well as fish processing waste and sludge from wastewater treatment facilities would be mixed with wood chips, sawdust and shredded plants to produceorganic fertilizer.

Penneysays ifresidents are worriedabout the odouror flies, they can be rest assured that be will be avoided.

In a province that's so vast, with so much land, there's certainly a better place to put it.- Mark Lane

While Lane and other residents worry about the smell, there are other concerns.

"Rodents, for example, the attraction of wildlife.I know in anenvironmental report it mentionedthere's no bears on the Avalon;I've seen bears onSalmonierLine. Coyotes are a big problem lately."

"Why put it in that particular spot in a municipality? We don't need it.In a province that's so vast, with so much land, there's certainly a better place to put it."

The town's planningcommittee will bring its recommendation for a vote to the next council meeting on Feb. 23.

The public has until March 21 to make its views known.

The minister of environment will make his decision one week later.