A court injunction has been granted for Arrow Transportation to end a blockade set up in Turtle Valley.

People against a plan to move in biosolids have been blocking road access since April 29th, and the BC Supreme Court has ordered them to move out by May 18th.

Resident Connie Seaward says despite the ruling, the delay is a good thing.

“They could’ve granted an immediate injunction and they didn’t. So it gives us enough time to get our case together, and we have a very strong case against this land application. Some permits were not issued that need to be issued, just the amount alone (of 23,000 tonnes), and a few other little topics that we’re gathering up with the hydrologist about the aquifer here.”

A private ranch owner in Turtle Valley has agreed to take in 23,000 tonnes of biosolids from the Kamloops Sewage Treatment Plant, and the project has been approved by the Ministry of Environment.

Meanwhile, Arrow Transportation says the setback with the Turtle Valley blockade won’t affect the schedule or timeline for completion for the biosolids project.

“Of course we want to get back to work as soon as possible, but at the end of the day I think what’s important to remember is the judge did rule in favour of granting the injunction. So he did effectively state that our case, our request for an injunction, was a strong one and that it should be approved,” regional manager Jeff Mayer says.

Mayer says the biosolids are tested before they go on to the property to meet provincial standards, and he says the soil at the Turtle Valley Bison Ranch where they will be laid was also tested and found to be devoid of nutrients.

He claims the opposition is confusing legislation in the Organic Matter and Recycling Regulations, as he says comparing biosolids to compost is comparing apples to oranges.

(Photo: Facebook – The Shuswap Lake Coalition)