CSRD Launches Legal Action Against Spa Hills Compost Facility

BREAKING: The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) has initiated urgent legal proceedings against the Spa Hills Compost facility located at 2223 Yankee Flats Road in the North Okanagan. This decisive action comes just days after a board meeting on September 18, 2025, where officials voted to enforce compliance with local zoning laws due to ongoing violations.

The CSRD’s motion, confirmed in a September 22 letter to residents, mandates all necessary steps to ensure the composting facility adheres to CSRD bylaws. This includes the legal proceedings aimed at addressing significant concerns raised by local residents regarding odor, excessive waste processing, and potential threats to groundwater and wildlife.

Local complaints prompted the CSRD to investigate the facility’s compliance with provincial Organic Matter Recycling Regulations. Residents of Silver Creek voiced their grievances during an April 2024 meeting, highlighting issues such as overwhelming odors and increased truck traffic. Despite efforts to collaborate with the facility’s owners, including a failed rezoning application to expand the operational area from 500 square meters to a staggering 23,725 square meters, no satisfactory resolutions have been achieved.

In a report, planner Laura Gibson expressed concerns that the facility’s scale negatively impacts nearby properties and residences. Residents remain frustrated with the lack of action taken since the board’s decision, prompting several to seek legal advice from West Coast Environmental Law.

The CSRD’s latest move marks a critical step in addressing the community’s concerns and underscores the district’s commitment to regulatory compliance. As legal proceedings unfold, the CSRD has indicated that they will provide no further comment on the matter at this time.

This urgent situation reflects broader environmental and community health issues that resonate beyond local borders, signaling a need for stricter oversight of composting operations across the region.

Residents and observers will be closely monitoring the developments in this case, as the implications could set a precedent for future environmental compliance efforts in the area. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.