Farming Noise a Concern in Coldstream

A number of residents in Coldstream are upset with what they consider excess farm noise.

In particular, helicopters used by the cherry industry to dry wet crops.

Most practices like that are covered under the Right to Farm Act Provincially that supersedes all local bylaws with respect to agriculture.

Mayor Jim Garlick says they want clarification from
the Farm Industrial Review Board on how certain farm practices become acceptable.

“Right now its more or less what happens is you have innovation in farming and it becomes the normal practice, but what determines that. What is the process that determines it so that a farmer is then protected.”

The issue of helicopters remains the centre of the controversy.

“What’s the number of helicopters? When can they fly over, like times of day those sorts of things and who monitors those things as well?”

Garlick says some common ground needs to be established.

“We need to have some conversations and look at some of the practices and see if we can improve the relationship between farming and non-farming in our area.”

Coldstream will also try to meet with Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick in hopes of creating municipal rules that will satisfy both urban and rural residents.