Opponents say noise complaints are falling on deaf ears
Paul J. Henderson, The Chilliwack Times
Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
When it comes to the use of propane cannons by blueberry farmers the fox is
really in charge of the henhouse, according to some critics.
The dispute has arisen over the noise of the devices used to scare off birds,
and involves residents in ever-expanding residential areas and blueberry farms.
The issue will likely continue as the industry has nearly doubled since 2001
and continues to do so.
And while a recent report suggested the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and
the blueberry industry would meet over the winter to consider alternatives to
the cannons, the meeting is really just routine, according to industry.
"We are going to be reviewing the guidelines, which we do on a regular basis,"
said Will Van Baalen, executive director for the B.C. Blueberry Council.
"We are always looking for alternatives to cannons, but it is an integral part
and is a normal farm practice."
The provincial government estimates there are about 6,400 hectares of
blueberries planted this year, up from 3,440 hectares in 2001. The fastest
growth of blueberry farms is in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Pitt Meadows, Surrey
and Delta, but so too is there increasing residential development in those
areas and conflicts are inevitable.
"Over the last three years the use of propane cannons has become more and more
of a nuisance as more acres are planted every year," said Yarrow resident
Randolph Schneider via e-mail.
Schneider is one among many Fraser Valley residents involved with the Ban the
Cannons group that is opposed to propane cannons, and while he says most of the
disturbing noise he hears comes from across Boundary Road in Abbotsford, there
are similar noise issues on Chilliwack farms.
While he has not yet found the noise of the cannons unbearable, he fears it
soon will be as he has heard of two new farms being planted this year.
"I do feel sorry for the people that live closer to the offending farms," he
said. Ban the Cannons have been around since the spring of 2001 and their
website is www.banthecannons.com.
The use of propane cannons is permitted by the province, but there are
guidelines, which Schneider and others have argued are not followed by some
farmers. Schneider says sometimes the cannons boom all night long despite the
fact that the use is only permitted between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., but complaints
have got him nowhere.
"My experience from the complaints process has been a joke," he said.
Van Baalen said the problem can be more one of educating growers on using an
integrated approach with the cannons along with other methods such as kites and
ribbons, falcons and even netting, which can be prohibitively expensive. One
technique being studied is a low-power infrared laser that apparently
temporarily disrupts the birds' navigational system and causes them to fly away
unharmed.
The Ban the Cannons group website is www.banthecannons.com.
