Residents of Jahn Place in Sidney are raising concerns after Styrofoam particles, originating from the construction of the new TownPlace Suites hotel on Beacon Avenue West, drifted into their neighborhood.
The incident, which occurred over the July 4 weekend, has sparked worries about environmental impact and potential health hazards.
The issue came to light when Mark McGregor, a resident of Jahn Place, shared photos of Styrofoam debris scattered across his driveway and front door on the This is Sidney community Facebook group.
The post quickly garnered attention, with other residents reporting similar findings.
"I was driving past the new hotel on Friday afternoon, and it looked like it was snowing," commented Katie Davis on McGregor's post, highlighting the extent of the Styrofoam dispersal.
According to McGregor, construction workers were sanding or shaving Styrofoam cladding used in the hotel's walls over the weekend, sending plumes of the material into the air.
"People driving by have seen them grinding the Styrofoam and sending huge clouds of it into the air, so it's just been catching and then floating down all around the neighbourhood," he explained.
The fallout has affected numerous properties.
"My neighbours have it in their house, all over their grass and gardens," McGregor added.
Concerned about the situation, McGregor contacted the Town of Sidney. However, he found their initial response underwhelming.
"They seemed to be kind of blasé about cleaning it up because they don't want to be stuck with the bill," he said.
Max Dunbar, McGregor's neighbour, further explained they were told the issue fell outside the town's jurisdiction.
"The airport commercial management division put me in touch with the folks that are developing the property," he said.
The Town of Sidney confirmed in a statement to Peninsula News Review that the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) was addressing the concern.
VAA vice-president of revenue strategy and business development Lindsay Gaunt stated that the authority had received reports of Styrofoam debris originating from the hotel development.
"Upon notification, our team immediately contacted the lead contractor, who promptly halted operations to ensure proper containment and cleanup of construction materials," Gaunt said.
She also reassured the public that "At no time was safety at YYJ affected by the reported debris."
VAA maintains a strict policy of no foreign object debris on or near airport grounds.
Following the community's concerns, a representative from the Marriott group, which owns the hotel chain, visited McGregor and Dunbar to assess the situation.
The hotel’s developer, Citta, subsequently dispatched a cleanup crew to vacuum hard surfaces around Dunbar's property.
A large truck also vacuumed out catch basins and storm drains.
However, residents remain concerned about the lingering presence of Styrofoam particles, particularly in grass and other soft surfaces.
McGregor expressed his worry, saying, "Somebody's got to take responsibility and clean it up before we get the first rain this week – the particles will go down the drain, which is pretty toxic for fish and the ocean."
Beyond the environmental risks, residents are also concerned about the potential health hazards posed by the airborne Styrofoam particles.
"You just don't want to be breathing that stuff in," Dunbar emphasized.
The debris has spread to approximately 26 houses on Jahn Place and even reached Skylark Lane, the next street over.
Both Dunbar and McGregor are advocating for a comprehensive and organized cleanup effort, emphasizing that the issue represents a significant environmental threat.
They hope that responsible parties will take swift action to address the Styrofoam contamination and prevent further damage to the environment and the health of the community.
