Funding to clean up property on Thetis Island has been approved and cleanup to remove years of automobile salvage can start being removed from a local property.
According to the Island Trust Executive Committee, the property on Thetis Island has been the subject of legal action from by Island Trust since 2010, and along with a contractor they will begin to remove derelict vehicles, debris and auto parts from the site.
Chair Tobi Elliot says moving ahead with cleanup of the site is a step in the right direction, and a move to keeping everyone in the community safe.
“This cleanup is a significant step forward in addressing the long-standing concerns about this property,” he says. “By removing these hazards, we’re ensuring the protection of the natural environment and promoting community safety.”
According to a media release, several attempts have been made to ensure the property owner complies with bylaw enforcement actions and with the BC Supreme Court actions to remove the debris, but the site remains a safety concern and a potential risk to the public.
Island Trust says each day the site isn’t cleaned up adds to the threat of the community.
“The remains a safety hazard, with the risk amplified by a fire that occurred on the property in April 2023, we intend to take additional action to recover taxpayer funding,” they said in a media release.
Most of the investigations by Island Trust stem from community complaints, but according to the release, trust committees can approve action, and then the trust executive committee must approve any related financial costs any further action can be taken.
