HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-06, Page 76 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Wind turbine neighbours could find tbelr land at risk: wind activlsts
Heather Wright
QMI Agency
Lambton farmers face risks from wind turbines,
even if they aren't on their land.
Lambton wind activists are issuing warning
landowners urging then) to investigate just how
close their neighbours are placing turbines to their
property.
Lambton Shores is soon to be hone to two major
wind projects. Suncor Energy plans to build a solar
project with (i2 industrial turbines and NextEra
Energy's plan has 92 turbines. Middlesex Lambton
Wind Concern spokesperson Man -elle Brooks says
a little known part of the regulations for turbines
allows for boundary setback reductions. it basically
means the giant turbines could be placed very
close to the property lines of people who don't
want turbines on their land.
Suncor is applying for 21 boundary setback
reductions and NextEra is looking for 39.
"It benefits the host property owner," says
Brooks. "The companies are putting the access
roads close to the turbines as close to the property
line as possible so they don't chop up the farmer's
field."
But she says in the case of a Massive failure of
the turbines, they could land on the neighbour's
property. "If it did fall into the neighbours prop-
erty, you're going to have not only the blade length
of 50 meters but you're going to potentially have
another 20 meters of hub and turbine tower come
crashing into your field. A hub and rotor weighs
144 tonnes...that's going to make a pretty big
hole."
Brooks adds the 750 litres of oil in the turbine
will end up on the land, too. "'they've just contami-
nated your field."
But she says it may not be that dramatic.
Turbines throw ice during cold weather. In
Chatham -Kent, some turbine sites warn people to
stay over 3011 meters away for fear of ice throws.
"Any grazing animals are at risk... what if you have
a snowmobile trail through your property? What it'
you hike? What ifyou ski? ...What if your hush hap-
pen to he tapped commercially for maple syrup?
lIo v is ice throw going to affect your trees? glow
The Municipality of Lambton Shores
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COUNCIL MEETING DATES -
FEBRUARY 2013
Budget Meeting - Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 1:00 p.m.
Regular Council Meeting - Tuesday, February 11, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Regular Council Meeting - Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 2:00 p.m.
Fire Board - Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. - Arkona Fire Nall
Committee of Adjustment - Thursday, February 28 - 7:00 p.m.
ANI meetings are held at the Thedford Village Complex, unless noted
otherwise.
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SHORES
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Economic Development Committee
The Municipality of Lambton Shores is seeking individuals interested in serving on the Economic Development
Committee to assist In discussions and research geared to business retention and expansion, and to encourage
opportunities for employment growth in Lambton Shores and to make recommondations to Council on Economic
Development Issues.
Council is seeking 6 people who will represent key groups in the community, such as tourism, agriculture, youth,
business, seniors, and ensure wide geographic coverage, and with oxponence In either economic development,
marketing, information technology, sociology and/or municipal processes
If you are interested in participating, application forms aro available on the municipal wobsitu
www.lambtonshoros.callocal government/ Council. Application forms aro also available by contacting any one of oho
Municipal Office.
Submission details aro available on the form, and applications aro to be submitted by February 13, 2013
2013 TAX NOTICE
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are you going to be compensated?"
Middlesex Lambton Wind Concerns
is holding a public meeting on the issue
Friday starting at 7pn► at Kimball i tall in
Forest. Brooks hopes landowners will
('O111e 0111 t0 hear whist they may face in
the future.
"Landowners have to realize their
land is at risk and they have to fight for
it...1 can show you your land is at risk
...but !can't fight on your behalf."
Melting Friday
'the Middlesex-Lambton Wind Action
(roup (MI.WAG) will he hosting a com-
munity information evening on Friday,
February 8.
The topics to be discussed include
Boundary Setback Reductions a term
given by the wind developers to describe
when a turbine is place(( closer to the
property line than the required distance
set out in the Environmental Act which
does affect the safety and use of affected
properties.
This infringement by the wind devel-
opers occurs in AL1. wind projects and
is done without the consent of the
affected landowner.
Suncor reduced the boundary set-
backs 21 times for the Cedar Point
Project that consists of 62 turbines,
while NextEra reduced the boundaries
for :39 of the 92 turbines in the Jericho
Project.
Why is this happening? !low will this
impact your land? What can you do
about it?
Please join us and educate yourself
on your property rights!
Everyone is welcome.
If you go:
7:00 p.m.
Kimball Hall
6276 Townsend Line
Forest, Ontario
windactiongroup@gmail.com
Forest residents worried
about tourism funding
Politicians and
Chamber defend the
yearly grant
Heather Wright
the service of tourist information," he
says adding that the tourist information
hook the group puts out is for all of
Lambton Shores.
Susan Mills of (rand Bend Tourism
agrees. She says this year's guide has far
more information about Forest than it
ever has, including local business and
Some residents of Forest are wonder- attractions such as the MiloO'l'heater.
ing why Lambton Shores is investing 111 "Forest is named many times in the vlsi-
(rand Bend 'Tourism but not putting tors' guide," says Mills.
cash into Forest's BIA. And she says the (:;rand Bend Chant -
For the last two years, 1.8(11)10n her will be working with the Forest BiA
Shores has given funding to (;rand Bend on a number of projects this year includ-
Tourism - an arm of the Grand Bend ing a shop local promotion in the fall.
Chamber of Commerce. In 2012. the Mills believes the municipality's
group received just over $16,000 from money for (rand Bend tourism is well
the municipality as an acknowledge- spent. "We are doing a service for the
trent it is providing tourism services for area in the absence of anyone else doing
the municipality. it very well,' she says. "'Ihe challenge we
But at a public meeting in Forest have is that 1,ve 11ilvl' only one
recently some residents voiced concern employees...and I can only spend a cer
about the grant. Rick (oodhand says tail) amount of time accomplishing
the Forest 131A should be on "equal tourism work...we're only scratching
ground for funding. the sus face of the iceberg
"'the problem is you hand the 111o11('y "\Vt' Ili1Vl' a great place 101' tourist t(1
out without doing the research and it is colue...tourism itself is a huge economic
our money," he added. driver but it is completely under
But Councilor Martin Underwood funded...it needs to be given the proms
defended the move. -they are providing nenee we deserve."