PICKERING -- A group of Pickering residents is raising a stink about a proposed sewage odour control facility (OCF) to be built near their subdivision.

The OCF is part of the York-Durham Sewage System (Big Pipe) extension and would be located just south of the Cherrywood West subdivision, near Altona Road and Concession 3 in Pickering.

A group of Cherrywood residents argues they weren't properly informed about the project and is now fighting to stop the facility. Their main concern is odours from the facility will prevent them from enjoying their backyards and homes and decrease their property values.

"We believe this can be placed in a number of locations. It doesn't have to be placed beside our subdivision," said Cherrywood resident Pete Herman.

A group, Stop the Stink, has been created to fight the OCF and the group met last week to learn more about the environmental assessment (EA) process, with roughly 60 people cramming into the Whitevale Community Centre. The featured speaker was Charlene Cressman, special project officer for the ministry of the environment (MOE). Ms. Cressman is handling the EA for the Big Pipe extension and she fielded questions from the group.

Ms. Cressman said the proponents of the project, York and Durham regions, have to demonstrate that the community has been consulted and they've addressed concerns. She did not comment on whether the two Regions had done those things, but spoke about the general responsibilities of proponents.

"They have to show they've followed a fulsome environmental assessment process ... if they haven't done that, we have an issue and they need to address it."

Whitevale resident Peter Rodriguez questioned the EA process and said while proponents may listen to residents and respond to concerns, that doesn't mean members of the public get what they want.

"They ask you if you want blue or green, not do you or do you not want to do it."

In an interview following the meeting, Rich Tindall, a project engineer for Durham's works department, said the two Regions have made an effort to contact area residents.

"We'll definitely meet with them as many times as it takes to address their concerns."

It could include arranging for community members to visit a similar OCF, perhaps near Ottawa or in Ohio. He said the new OCF would have a backup so that there won't be a smell in the event of a breakdown. There is another OCF in Pickering which smells when it breaks down.

The EA was recently submitted by the regions to the MOE and the public has until Jan. 23 to comment on it. After that the MOE will review the EA. Before that deadline, Mr. Tindall will make a presentation about the Cherrywood situation at the Regional works committee meeting on Jan. 14.