Schools at war over compost heap
MARYVALE - Maryvale College principal raised her disappointment with Torah Academy’s refusal to remove a compost heap they developed in their sports field which is adjacent to the college’s pre-school.
Maryvale College principal Elizabeth Redmond has expressed her disappointment with Torah Academy’s refusal to remove a compost heap.
The compost heap is located at Torah Academy’s sports field adjacent to the college’s pre-school. Redmond said her concerns were that the compost was a health hazard to her pre-school children.
She said Torah Academy started the compost heap about 18 months ago. “The compost is infested with rats and mice and poses a health risk to crèche children. Their classes and sleeping rooms are about 20m from the compost.” She added the compost also caused an unpleasant smell especially when hot.
Redmond said she had engaged the academy’s head, Rabbi Dovid Hazdan, who promised to look into the matter and respond. According to Redmond, Hazdan did not keep his promise. She also alleged that the academy ignored the department of health’s order to remove the compost. Redmond said she wanted to resolve the matter amicably. “Fighting is against the spirit of the school, but I am concerned about the lives of the children in my care.”
In his response, Hazdan said he had investigated the matter. He added the health department visited the site last November and had given the academy permission to keep it.
“After digging into the compost, we found no evidence of the presence of rodents,” he said. “The expert assisting us with this green project has assured me there are no rodents. Should there be substantiated concerns of rodents coming from the compost heap we will take the necessary measures.”
Hazdan said he had communicated this to the college last November and had received no communication from them since then. “To suddenly receive a high-handed communication including scurrilous, inflammatory and invective allegations is unacceptable.”
However, one of the environmental health practitioners (who did not want to be named) who visited the site last year stated they gave the academy a notice to remove the compost heap, and clean the overgrown grass around it. He said the academy had ignored the notice.
