The city of Montreal says their planned four compost treatment centres will now go full steam ahead, after the city's public consultation body okayed the fourth and final site in St. Laurent, on Henri Bourassa Boulevard near Highway 13.

The city says it will follow through on the consultation office's nearly 30 recommendations to help decrease anticipated noise, traffic and odours. Montreal mayor Michael Applebaum said he wants to reassure opponents and people living and working in the area of the St. Laurent center as well as the others located in St. Michel, Montreal East and Lasalle. The site in St. Laurent was chosen after the one in Dorval was ruled out.

"It's very clear that when we're talking about these types of sites that we cannot please everybody but this is a very important dossier for the city of Montreal," Applebaum told a news conference.

"We'll take into consideration all of the concerns and all of the requests of the different individuals that live in the area and work in the area."

Elected officials in the borough of Villeray/Saint-Michel/Parc-Extension - mayor Anie Samson and councillors Frantz Benjamin, Frank Venneri and Mary Deros - denounced the plan, saying they're disappointed it's going ahead despite the strong opposition of their constituents.

Construction is expected to start next year, with the centres in St. Laurent, St. Michel and Montreal East slated to open in 2016, and the one in Lasalle , in 2020.

The total cost of the project is pegged at $237-million, with $135-million coming from the federal and provincial governments.

Photo: CJAD 800 News archives