The Creemore
Echo
Friday, June 10, 2011 Vol. 11 No. 23
Inside the ECHO
New Man in Charge
Rent-A-Youth hires new administrator. PAGE 7
News and views in and around Creemore
Baseball Bust
Braves take first loss in spectacular fashion. PAGE 8
Publications Mail Agreement # 40024973
NEW PLAN FOR FAIRGOUNDS WIND TURBINES
by Brad Holden Wpd Canada, developer of the proposed Fairview Wind Project in the vicinity of Fairgrounds Road and County Road 91, announced this week that it has determined a new layout for its eight proposed wind turbines, and that the company will host a “public open house” to discuss the project on Wednesday, July 13 at the Stayner Community Centre. The company has been delayed in its plans by a clause that neighbours to the site found in the Clearview Township zoning bylaw, which allowed them to build accessory buildings anywhere on their properties. A number of building permits were filed at the Township office that caused lawyers to become involved, in an attempt to discern whether accessory buildings should invoke setback regulations set out in the Green Energy Act. In a press release this week, wpd Canada president Ian MacRae said, “Although regulations specify that the accessory structures need not be considered, wpd has found a way to alleviate these concerns and accommodate these structures. The solution was (See “New Fairview” on page 3)
ROCK AND RIDE The Stayner Collegiate Institute gym was transformed into a bizarre combination of
an intense fitness centre and a heavy metal rave party on Wednesday, as an “Inside Ride” fundraiser was held for Creemore cyclist and cancer survivor Vicki Dunleavy (right, with Inside Ride co-ordinator Larry Optis). Dunleavy is participating in this year’s Tour for Kids (www.tourforkids.com/ontario). The Inside Ride, which raised $4,500 to battle kid’s cancer, featured teams of six competing for the most kilometres “cycled” over two hours. With music pumping and Optis’ partner Michael Sharpe (see more photos on page 6; he’s the one with the long hair) playing the rock star ringleader role, this was truly an impressive fundraising event.
Testimony wraps up on Duntroon quarry expansion by Brad Holden After 139 days of testimony over 13 months, the hearing into Walker Aggregates’ proposed Duntroon Quarry expansion came to an end on Wednesday, June 1. Throughout the hearing, the Consolidated Hearings Board (consisting of two Ontario Municipal Board members and one representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources) was presented with tens of thousands of pages of evidence, 389 additional exhibits, and testimony from experts, participants and members of the public. The parties to the hearing were Walker Aggregates, Simcoe County, Clearview Township, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC), the Clearview Community Coalition (CCC) and quarry neighbour Emelia Franks. They each called expert witnesses in a range of disciplines – from traffic to blasting, hydrogeology, ecology, planning and others – to testify on their behalf. The board also received written and heard verbal submissions from
such groups and individuals as the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, Walker employees, local businesses and residents living in the vicinity of the quarry. Next in the hearing process is for written arguments to be presented to the board by Walker, the Township and County by June 24, followed by arguments by the NEC, the CCC and Franks by July 15. Walker, the Township and County will then have an opportunity to present their reply arguments by July 29. Following that, the three panel members will deliberate. Chris Conti, the chairman of the hearing panel, acknowledged the complexity of the case on the last day of the hearing and assured the parties that time will be taken to weigh the evidence carefully. While much of the above information came from a Walker Aggregates press release, the Echo was not able get a comment from company president Ken
Lucyshyn, who was on a “much-needed vacation,” according to Walker communications consultant Tricia Hellingman. Clearview Community Coalition spokesperson Janet Gillham, meanwhile, told us that the “CCC is optimistic that the hearing officers have heard compelling evidence from the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the Clearview Community Coalition; evidence that will lead them to the conclusion that locating a quarry near the highest point on the Niagara Escarpment next to sensitive natural heritage features and on the watershed divide is not in the public interest; that a Road Settlement that will lead to the closure of a County Road is not in the public interest; and that the industrialization of this rural/recreational area is not in the public interest.” It’s anticipated the board’s ruling on the expansion application will come sometime this fall.
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