Beaumont looks to tackle issue of construction waste

BEAUMONT -- Beaumont is exploring measures to prevent debris from construction sites from entering surrounding properties and neighbourhoods. 

This comes as a motion brought forward by Councillor Steven vanNieuwkerk has directed administration to draft an amendment to the City's Community Standards Bylaw to establish new regulations for builders. If the plan goes ahead, this would create rules that all construction sites in Beaumont be equipped with enclosed waste bins to prevent debris from being blown or scattered to nearby areas.

"As Beaumont continues to grow, we're seeing and feeling some pressures that come with it," said vanNieuwkerk. "Construction activity is visible all around our expanding community. As I bring this motion forward, this construction activity is causing real impacts to surrounding neighbourhoods and neighbours. Quite frankly, this is an issue we shouldn't have to be bringing forward."

vanNieuwkerk says that while basic construction site cleanliness should already be a standard practice, it is not happening consistently in the municipality. He adds that Beaumont is spending significant taxpayer dollars, administrative effort, and municipal enforcement time dealing with the matter.

"This proposed amendment is about setting a clear, reasonable expectation," said vanNieuwkerk. "It proposes secure, lidded waste bins at active construction sites, and just as importantly, it makes clear that the storage of loose waste and construction materials directly on the ground is prohibited. That's a key piece, because once materials are left exposed, they inevitably end up scattered beyond the site and into the community."

The motion received an amendment before being passed by Beaumont Council which directs staff to also explore other possible options to address uncontained construction waste and materials at active construction sites. Councillor Nathan Netelenbos says it’s regretful that these sorts of measures need to be explored.

"It's somewhat disappointing that we have to get to this point, because there are some very reputable builders where this isn't the case," said Netelenbos. "You go and visit their site, they take pride in their site, there's no garbage on their site, everything is secured and taken away on a regular basis. However, there are some other builders where this isn't the case."

The motion to explore the new regulations or alternative options was passed unanimously and will return for further discussion at a future date.