Proposed incinerator on port lands a big surprise for council, public

Accepting a proposal for a new waste incinerator alongHamiltons industrial waterfront would be a step backwards for the city, says Councillor Chad Collins.

But the Hamilton Port Authority calls the energy from waste proposal a chance to showcase Hamilton's leadership in green technology.

With the proposed site on port lands, its not clear how much say city hall will have in the decision-a situation that has to change if the city is to findaneweconomicfuture, says Collins.

Theproposalby Port Fuels & Material Services Inc, is suggested for development on Sherman Avenue, north of Burlington Street. The facility would use a gas plasma technology to divert waste andbe capable ofmanaging up to 190,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste and industrial and commercial waste, per year.

"The proposed incinerator conforms to an outdated economicdevelopment mindset thats representative of a differentera, andis no longer in keeping with Hamiltons future vision ofthelowercity industrial corridor,"said the Ward 5 councillor.

The Port Authority, which would act as the landlord, calls the proposal a good one for the city, and says it is wrong to call the technology an incinerator.

"TheGasplasmatechnology in this facility will be unlike anything proposed in Hamilton in the past,"saidLarissaFenn, the port's communications manager, in astatement.

"HPAsees a number of potential benefits from this project, which will showcase Hamiltons leadership in the clean tech sector.And it should be noted that the facilityisfor the purpose of waste processing not wastedisposal.We see this green energy project as a positive addition to the evolving mix of new technologies and industriesthat make up Hamiltons thriving commercial port district."

The proposal came to light as the company promoted an open house on its bid, which is for a site on Hamilton Port Authority lands at Pier 15. Noformal bidnotificationhasbeen received by the city. The timing andlocation of that open house has also prompted immediate criticism from councillors.

Not good enough

The company made a grave mistake by not informing people about the project sooner and holding a public consultationonitinacompletelydifferentneighbourhood,Coun. SamMerullasays.

A public open house about the incinerator is scheduled for this Thursday at the Museum of Steam & Technology and thats just not good enough,Merullasays.

We all just found out about this today, and thats nonsense, he said. The fact that the meeting is being held the day before a long weekend and in a completelydifferentward only compounds the problem, he added.

Im formally asking for them to cancel the meeting and seek a location closer to the affected area, he said.

Port Fuels & Material Services did not immediately respondto requests for comment. The company must go through public consultationsasarequirement from the provincial government. The Project head, Robert Clark, told the Hamilton Spectator that the technology is "virtually emission-free," and said it is too late to change the timing of the consultation. But he promised there would be more open house opportunities.

But Collins says the proposal raises wider issues about the citys ability to control waterfront development and the ports expanding role as an industrial landlord.

Collins says the citys zoning for the area does not allow an incinerator, but worries the Port Authoritys ability to stretch its definition of shipping and navigationuses could be used to get around city controls.

Growing concern

The proposal also highlights a growing concern related to port development and how marine related economic development plans, as part of Port Operations, continue to be developed outside ofthemunicipalplanning umbrella, said Collins. Many of the past and present Port developments have little to do with shipping and navigation; they are operations you might find anywhere in the municipality and arenot unique to the port.

Environment Hamilton only received notice about the proposal Monday, says LyndaLukasik, executive director. Its short notice and a problematic night and its not even in the same neighbourhood, she said. Itsclear across town.

As it stands, the public meeting on the project is still scheduled for Thursday at the Museum of Steam and Technology at 900 Woodward Avenue from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.