Edna's mess

It's not the first impression Mayor Brian Button would like to make on visitors coming into the province.

But the smell of rotting fish, decaying animal carcasses and other garbage are what greets tourists and locals choosing to stop on the service road across the Trans-Canada Highway from Edna's Road.

The short paved section allows drivers to safely pull off the highway just after arriving in Newfoundland to check their vehicles, access goods, stretch or make cell phone calls. Local residents often walk the loop as well.

The section was built several years ago when some individuals considered putting small businesses in the area such as a gas station. However, nothing was ever built, the road remained and has become a common stopping area.

Mayor Button said the area has also become a dumping ground.

He said it's common to see tractor-trailers carrying fish products dumping their water tanks on the road as they are not allowed to discharge any liquid on the Marine Atlantic Terminal property.

"You can just imagine the smell," said Mayor Button.

At the site there is also what's left of a moose carcass, various large household items and smaller trash as well.

Mayor Button said it's a small minority of people creating the problem. He also noted the town's incinerator site is only a few kilometres up the road from the location of the mess.

The town didn't necessarily want the road blocked off, but in light of several complaints about the mess, it contacted the provincial Department of Transportation and Works to search for a solution. One possibility was to block off access to the service road, perhaps until a better solution can be found.

The department said it wouldn't be possible to do so this year as the white and yellow lines had already been painted on the highway. A spokesperson explained that serious safety issues would result from closing a road while the intersection is painted indicating there is a road.

The town suggested that the heavy brush in the area be cut, which would make people engaged in the illegal dumping easier to see, thus deterring them from the action or allowing it to be reported by passersby.

The department said it has no brush cutting contracts in the area this year.

"It floors me," said Mayor Button. He said communities in the province are taking drastic measures on waste management, yet here is a serious issue that the province is aware of and will not take action until next year.

"We need to take measures now," he said.

The spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Works said issues with illegal dumping are best directed to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

The town has already contacted that department on the issue as well and is awaiting a reply. Port aux Basques has also requested a meeting with the Department of Transportation to further discuss the issue.

editor@gulfnews.ca