Savary Island garbage is not the responsibility of qathet Regional District (qRD), directors stated in response to correspondence on the matter.
At the August 18 committee of the whole meeting, directors reviewed correspondence from Andrew Johnson, who operates APJ Service, which provides garbage collection in Lund. He stated in his correspondence that he is having a problem with persons coming off Savary and leaving garbage out with little or no payment.
At the meeting, Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon said the regional district has no jurisdiction on this matter.
“It’s a private company operating a service and his problem appears to be with people of Savary Island,” said Brabazon. “There’s no room for us.”
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said there is concern with more tourists in the area, with garbage being left on docks and ministry of transportation rights of way, and some is going into the bush.
“I suppose if garbage is left on regional district parks or regional district properties, we would have some sort of obligation to clean it up,” added Gisborne. “We are seeing extra garbage showing up on ministry of transportation rights of way and along the highways as well. Who is responsible for cleaning up along the highways? Is that to be directed to the ministry of transportation?
Chief administrative officer Al Radke said that is the case.
Gisborne said as for the correspondence from Johnson, the regional district cannot get involved.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said Johnson might best direct his concerns to a Savary Island group.
“Maybe a community group on Savary can help educate people that just because they pay property taxes, and people think they pay enough, they don’t get free services,” said Fall. “It doesn’t work that way.”
City director CaroleAnn Leishman said it was “pretty disgusting” that people on Savary are not willing to pay a little bit to take their garbage away.
“Can we ask staff to respond to Mr. Johnson that because he’s a private company, the regional district can’t do anything?” asked Leishman. “I would like to have some follow-up for him.”
Brabazon said if he reads Johnson’s email correctly, garbage is being left on the dock in Lund. He said that’s Lund Harbour Authority’s responsibility to clean it up, just as the regional district would have to clean it up if garbage was left in one of the regional parks.
The committee voted to receive the letter from Johnson.
In his correspondence, Johnson stated that he is no longer willing to accept garbage from Savary visitors or residents until he has been compensated for his losses, which, he said, amount to more than $1,500.
