Westside Road Transfer Sites – Upgrade Plan

251125 – Solid waste / recycle centers for Westside Road are in two locations for convenience. The Traders Cove Station is at the south end of Westside Road at Bear Creek Main in the Traders Cove Regional Park. The North Westside Transfer Site is located at the Northern end of RDCO at Westside Road at the Sugar Loaf / Evely Rec Site access road just past Wainman Cove and before Westshore. On Dec 12 2024 the Wilson’s Landing and Communities Society – Delegation Presentation regarding the Traders Cove Transfer Station was presented to the EASC. Following that the North Westside Community Association – Delegation Presentation regarding the North Westside Waste Transfer Station was received on Jan 30 2025. The preceding links take you to the video record of the presentations the  committee debate and both Staff and delegation documentation. 

On Jun 05 2025 RDCO Staff brought back a report to address the improvements and upgrades requested by the Traders Cove and North Westside Transfer Station community delegations previously received by the EASC. The debate and documentation is Item 6.3 Transfer Station Improvements – Financial Implications. This report was not received favorably by the EA Directors as it came with significant rate increases or Status Que neither acceptable outcomes for the residents. We questioned the Reserve balance and availability of Community Works Funding and did not receive an answer to either enquiry. 

One question that did not get answered was why after 40+ years of operation, knowing the growth in population as well as the addition of recycling and yard waste to collection how is it that sufficient funds were not secured over the years to lessen the impact of site modernization. RDCO assets such as the water systems, fire departments, vehicles etc. require an asset renewal or replacement aspect to their budget to be eligible for senior level of government grants and funding.   

On Sep 04 2025 RDCO Staff brought back a revised report. The debate and documentation are 6.1 Transfer Station Improvements – Options and Financial Implications and was presented for EASC review and approval. This was a much more productive meeting for the residents out Westside Road. 

I have never understood the budgetary aspects of the solid waste program for the EAs. We have Brent Road, Bear Creek Main, Trepanier, Ellison and Joe Rich on curbside pickup with all of Westside Road operating out of two separately operated transfer sites that serve two distinctly different communities. All this under one budget for two distinctly different services, curb side pickup, and deposit to transfer site. I believe that the curbside collection should be a separate line item as well as separate budgets for the two transfer sites. There also needs to be a fee (parcel tax) applicable to all lots within the collection area regardless of whether there is a structure or empty lot. Solid waste like roads and water is key infrastructure, and it is necessary for any development, current or future and needs to be funded.