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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-07-25, Page 15Are they -'concerned about farmers?- ,,, ,.- *BY SHIRLEY 4 KELLER The news in this part of On- tario that plans for a Hydro plant in the Goderich:area, have leen, shelved' for, time. has been greeted with ini.xed emotions. This is not too sur-' prising since -the initial an-'; nounce'ment , from Ontario Hydrea„•that development had, been scheduled 'for this area was also received with a variety - sample, rural sample and. key cent were opposed, 50. percent respondents. were in favour and 30 percent A large percentage of each were, undecided; of the' rural sample was undecided for a, .sample, ° 41 percent were- op - variety of reasons at"the•titne of posed, 33 percent were opposed the interview. and 26 percent were undecided.; "It appears” that these and of the 'key respondents, 43. .segments' cif each sample poten- percent were in favor, 33 per.- tially hold the balance between cent were opposed and 24 per,- approval and disapproval ,of cent''were undecided. this project, Ontario 'Hydro y said. There was fairly general • • MANY UNDECIDED agreement,, among all that a f actions from, citizens Hydrodevelopment hereid In fact, aiiccording to 'Public "social) �I r land was "with the intent that it water production • capability," se Hydro is listenin to the eo le h ice of ,sellin their Toned. In- most particularly, the farmers; outright or retaining title and acceptable by most of those' y k people choice g 1 who were quest • terestingly enough, though, ur- • conveying an. easement,' In ban people°were more pleased ' KILOWATTS AND CORN ,, arriving at compensation, .the • with the- attitude of Ontario The article is as follows: new ' and Mole flexible Hydro than the rural. folk, and "Faced with •a rising guidelines also recognize the the key respondents, generally populai'ion and expanding in- impact of transmission lines on h 1 with a closer' d t y the ',need t conserve farm operation e people usr•, ,e cr association with the situation, go'orl Agricultural land can "Through . the , „ears since were less satisfied. Of'athe key si;are0y be over -emphasized. , Adam Beck with the story respondents, 37:, percent said "Factories now stand where of electricity and ,its .potential they Were not impressed 'with ',fruit .trees once flourished. Ur- as an aid to .agriculture otlydro the attitude of Ontario-`it/tiro, 41 percent s Y . have to en many thousands o aid the were o re .. would stimulate industry. Most were satisfied a c 2- percent were acres of arable 'land out of If this, 'relationship has • Of those persona, who were ..undecided.• production. H.ighways,''railways .straine,d during the. process cif Relations officials with Ontario not opposed t"growth in the contacted in' connection with When asked .if, they trusted and pipelines are other exam- acquiring land •for t• he present ban sprawl and speculation has enjoyed a special rapport f with the farm people it serves forms 'the basis for discussion McKeough said. on Hydro's long range plans. (This . is . aone thing Huron 'County Council lias hoped for 'in recent months.) McKeough said'this indicates Hydro's plans to supply elec- trical power up to 1993 and he promised opportunityfor�public dialogue through `submission of d briefs and public hearings which, he- said, will begin ,in late 1974 or'•early 1975. 1 Turning to transmission lines, McKeough said Ontario Hydrd has advised that, in ad- dition to. the .requirement for a second �5C�A kY .;corridor to join .the Bruce complex 'to the area `'east of the Niagara ..Escarp- ment, there •.will be a need to • supply 500 kV power to London - and 't ii Kitchener by 1980. "The supply of,500 kV. power to Kitchener is being con- " become ' idered. as' one pant of the . .-. Bradley 'to Georgetown study, IN-DEPTH' REVIEW. which I have already men= I •• tioned;"�he said, "`and'Ont'ar10' "I would like to stress that Hvtlro is about to' begin public Hydro, it was this mixed feeling district Ontario Hydro, urban peo le the survey by Ontario Hydro, Y p ples� of how industrial expan-. transmtssion line program, that brought about a public atit. overall attitude 'of On- were�gener.ally agreed the body sibn has .tak n place at the ex= then Hydro is •taking the right i h' 48 v ual most people' had heard about The the decision to'implement. an participation on a proposed 500 d d th eventual trustworthy. Atnong the f the It i al en -course towards setting things . Of the urban sample, 20 per-tarioHydrohe ht listening to the farmerti lndepth p k tttu a survey air e e was believed to be was trus wor y. nse o e agricu r re decision to abandon the p ins pense .. view of the rovince- kV line from Nanticoke to sup- " key respondents; owever, vironrnent rig is f • H development -' the were undecided The .resu'ltS - voltage 'transmission, line net der painless the. process of this most important g at the present time," say,On- f d u the -property p p v p d M K ugh " `It also and transmission facilities the "An or Huron present time. �� Huron ti •- ,Ac n energy centre in gY . r �c`� m o � s �►o n County is socially unacceptable. ��� " ,, • . 4. 't people - percent aid they trusted On; '`Power lines also represent themselves tario Hydro, 30 percent said an, encroac meet° an 'the ex- , reflects a systeri'is approach. -to .� boned with regard' to the North • • they did not- and 22 percent pension of f-lyd•ro's% high- will in the world will not ren- '. " 'm octant matter,'' ° Channel generating station site " ro ert of eo de' said MoKeough. . ° wide future power ply the, London area." t d h d h "All ',theexpertise and good requirements of Ontario -As. I have previously men- tario s i tarioHydro people. n ' "It may be impossible to ' precisely define the accep- tability limits necessary to, con- stitute support 'and social ap- . proval' for a project o.f this magnitude,': the report from Ontario. Hydro said."It 'would appear that a majority of 51 percent, 67 percent or even 80 - percent of the population would be relatively meaningless in . establishing these limits, if the remainder'of the. population wereforced, to submit to.' a • project -that they' viewed as devastating, to their life , style, culture yandlar Livelihood.'' ' , ' For the purpose of 'inter preting the public .attitude • response from, Huron .County,.. , precise 'limits of 'acceptability were not really necessary. The . public '''attitude response in - Huron -indicated that a future onergy centre site and the associated' , 'transmission corridor were accepted .by'less than. ;51 percent of the urban ha were similar amongfarmers work is coming in for more an acq treng e ' " h d t h to ll But the - .represents a significant', step information obtained o as a• a • t ' n 'd did thy,_ 1 affected are acccrm process o o ur and 12 remained part of this opposition may at Ul who were interviewed.- 52 -per- - more • criticism as the . car- w o ono wish se Cent said they trusted 'Ori'tari'o . oration striveaoto acquire the .onus is on Hydro to .ensure that forward in the open planning result of Ontario , .Hydro s p . , ss t which this. Govern- studies and public participation Hydro, 33 percent said ' necessary land:" peop e - ,; not• percent'modated tothefullest. extent ment is committed. process will be submitted to the Remember the` -infestation' of earwigs 'about three years ago? Well, the sumtner• of 1974 brings something new 'to Goderich and vicinity. -It is spruce moths this year and accor- ding to the Ontario Ministry: of Agriculture and .Food at Clinton, there's no truth, at all to the rumors that spruce and cedar ;trees ;are threatened by the flying ,creatures. It was an unusual wind from Norther"n Ontario that swept the spruce moths to Goderich. This ..is the first year' this specie has been found in thispart of the province; and,' also' according to ,;the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, it° is • highly..possible it will be they, last year, too,. „ Tie females are laying their 'eggs, here this season but' Ministry officials do not believe they Will, survive the winter. If they do, though,; 1975's problem.. will be creepy,_ crawly caterpillars everywhere in the spring„ - and more moths to :.- keep the cycle oi.rig into 1976" . Other- then their bothersome qualities, however, spruce moths are not a problem insect. They only'live.in spruce trees and they' cause no damage 'at a11. Ministry representatives. "do 'no commend using insec- 'ticides to -control spruce .meths - not this year at least. If the problem' carries over into -next year.- and caterpillars are too •numerous - some controlling ac'tion might become necessary. Of course, there's alw• ays the hope the spruce moths will blown back: to their home in Northern Ontario• • a undecided. FARMERS NOT SURE transmiSSion requirements on a stem from misconceptions as to pons, ble by ani agency w hich "O:n completion of thin hearing with respect, to the long' the amount of land these power . must• also 'act ui the best .in- process, the public will have a range plan; McKeough said. - tandtii of the ob- 'The Governm'ent• intends t agricultural production. Unlike p•rovince. These ' include the , jectives •and requirements o direct the ,hear g- y ag P �` Ontario Hydro; the basic aider and report on' these power clear unders .g.o corridors actually remove from terests of the power users of,the , 'f in had to con- • corridors • Highway or a new housing farm industry w„liech )wes •muc,h L� .-.i-. guic(elines_ for future develop- ment wilt have been spelled out. ' priority basis, not only from the ina detail, and there will be an standpoint of need but, from an was demonstrated more clearly sub=division a transmission line pf its efficiency last' week following ..the an- is not entirely incompatible • trification."' nouncemerit 'by - Ontarrrr,:;blydro _with the_productton of 'food. 'that plans for the development ''Crops :ranging •from corn' to i . t retained FIco-orthnator - d-retainbd Mr: Elis T � �;.,vthe Harry Botulell^stafds in front Of the building when he will work•from July•10 tb August old Huron bounty •gall. The making risen flus ed-mtlsetlrri a succeanell #t� or • anize the., `e ss. (staff photo) many vOlunteer�, who are, m�. °gig P � a. _ .• ro _ , "CANTDU f the present time. - :• a�:ui-€�hli,g beneath ran-. - "I'ex "ect this process't�.take pttasize^"iie�irclpcsrtance .of this .•The Huron Power Plant, •- smission lines across the bread local CANTDU group says she p4 before it is ram to the eo le of: -this h or more ro p p of farmers, say that while they "Only theland actually Ontario Hydro to po,tpans .the this reason, and because of the `Ontario Hydro,lhas been sub - ,of pleased with the decision of covered by tl•ie. supporting ,development in his area at the long time period'' needed bet- , et- jec•ted to ,periodic criticism. In Ontario. Hydro, . its- .sub towers, plus a small area to present. B t she Bops • that ' �':+ ween identification of the need fairness, we- mast. • all -- committee -charged with the allow far ' manoeuvring of people wont " dismiss from, and the a h bl f .improved opportunity to•satisfy environmental and socio •aa the concerns of citizens, 'economic basis as well, )"fere were being suspended or tobacco.. and fruit are McKe h promised. "Finaliy,.I would like to eon, ' s h °t Mary Ann Shanahan of the qug" o e 1 b the decision of two years program ,Committee,. comprised mostly basket -of •Ontario. • tis "relieved" by concluded," he estimated. For Province,"' McKeough stressed. duty of making' 'recommen machinery is made available their minds" .the pro ems o dations- to the largest -commit- for' farming. Hi h -voltage nuclear energy. in general. tee, has. suggested .that all 18 -towers are placed a out. 800 to •,She expressed some concern tiniting.orderly development of cornp►exity ° ii�ilplicit in participating organizations 900 'feet apart on a single tower about art announcement of .fur- the Ontario Hydro system, On- providing' electricity to every "continue with fact finding line , and ,the. base of a 500 thea expansion at 'Bruce tart. Hvaro has been given'ap corner of Ontario, it is Generating. Station where two water' hints proval to proceed with studies inevitable that rt will have ad - additional Meavy p are planned. a and public 'participation for • verse impacts.°' -with regard to ter, She expressed the y opinion selection of- a new generating the person'or property of some. line is correspondingly grea -the station site in the North Chan- of4 us. f -that while objections from bringingainto service of acknowledge that w en an . new facilities, _and .-the per- 'organization is involved in in a sistent requirement for con- program of the magnitude and about the effects a power plant , kilovolt tower averages about of any type will have on Huron ..2"8•" ,,eet sgiiare: The ,,in - The' • • ' • fringement of •a- Multi -tower The sub -committee feels that, if :and when the suspension is lifted all.pertinent facts should be readily available, ' "tion is probably much less than Much of the mistrust among is commonly envisioned. ' • rural dwellers stems from the - "Inconvenience is a problem. "past performance'of Ontario " There is no question buf what ' Hydro . where hydro trap; ' the presence`�of towers on a .. smission ' lines cross farm can complicate such. funi:- agriculturalMan . .'Farniers tions' as :weed control- and the have repeatedly `complained manoeuvring of 'equipment for that financial settlements with ' seeding, harvesting and land Ontario , Hydro -fpr farmers : preparation. • whose land carry the ,.heavy "In addition to the physical • re voltage 'lines has been inconvenience, there is a fun- 4'Ilydro 'development to Huron dations by the hearing body structing Major - plants, -a,nd aciegirace. damental moral imposition in County and consequently should be timed: to, permit tran- facilities. on time to meet the As :well, "it as ' been long interfering With e,,pro 't` for the but the aggregate effect o trio- b a, eel of Lake Huron along with •"Hydros objective .: is to • srriission lines'oh food' produc the reasonts may have been nartdecision of the .necessary tr'ansrrriss-i.a -provide . adequate and secure the behind the decision to shelve plans for the local ; system:" supplies of electric electric power at energy station, she wondered if The informat'ioin obtained as reasonable cost,'" While doing Other"' "more- practical con- a result "of : Ontario .Hydro's minimum environmental siderations'° had,, not been of studies • and the public par- damage and causing minimum even greater influence . on ' ticipation process will be sub- .• distress to any •,citizen,'' rnitted by Ontario Hyciro,to the McKeough stated. Hydra _ _ What of the future?, , public 'hearing ''with "respect to '�It, is a remarkably difficiilt While • Mia. Shanahan was the long fringe plan. Subject to and challenging task, he con in�•fact naturally' reluctant to comment confirmation .of the ,need, and . eluded. Ontario Hydro, On , the possibility ' of- future raking into account •all other has achieved • an enviable ° levant factors,~ -recommen- .recprd of designing -and con - h f ith th perty of CANTDU s position or smissipri of 509;1{V power lay. demands of the citizens for argued b�y._conc reed, farmers people who ask nothing more months ahead -The Honorable. 1928 and 'a First unit „in-service . electric power.' Even with con- ' W: Darcy McKeough, Minister "land' is -being,... taken out of ..,-“Responsive . to change,. of Energv had quite -a bit tpsay date f8pr the generating' statism' servation measures heingjadop- b d k 1 d g that on• the, subject. ° by 1984. ted by Government and -developments of ,all types,, in- -,.-, rocedures which have been According to McKeough, the -"This generating station site citizens, it is unrealistic to p p ro's on. . the North Channel should assume these dernands will net„ eluding' Hydro. equitable and successful in heti reason for releasing ,_Hyde Qiliclude provision'�for the ,•grow, The future* is likely to be Farmers in Huron a•nd Bruce. .past are not necessarily Long'' Range 'Planning of the facingexpropriation. for ade uate today. Action�is'bei•ng Electric ?ower System recently • posstbitity of a future heavv , 'more difficult" than the'past.; areq '��•, � .•� ° . Mand for an' approved = lint not taken to ensure that its policies'. yet constructed - 230 KV trap- are consistent with the needs ' Seaforth. ' ' - -community... .' ' The expropri'atiof of the site "Information relative to the of the transformer station at efforts of power corridors oyer . --Wingham and of the corridor, farm" areas in Ontario 'is not reduced in width in some areas generally_ available and Hydro -of the route proposed ley ' On- is conducting studies to identify tario 'Hydro, was -•appro''ed by'.: problem areas. These in-depth the Minister of the Ftivi.rt�n- studies{^ are'' designed to •deter- ment William Newman on June mine the aetu l impact of Aran - that .•too iriuch valuable. rural - than to be left alone. • production every year Y' Hydro ac. now e , es • , smission line to Wingham and -,and views of the agricultural 48, - „ smission lines on farming ' However, Mr. Newman has operations and they will ;in- " - said he will hold one more elude ,substantial input from meeting with the farmers op-• -government agencies -and -'the posed to the -route and give -farm cohlmunity. • them none more chance to state -"In addition,- the Hydro their ' objections. °-i;rmers in board has approved a new 'and Huron and Bruce also want the more flexible property route to go on Less productive acquisition -policy that will help farmland. - ensure that procedures and According to Lloyd Moore, •coripensbtion formulae are.;.. Li:~towel, chairman of the Con- , 'more than fair to the people af- cerned Farmers' group them, f cted by Hydro' „expansion , Huron -Bruce " Farmers progtatsr-The new policy was Negotiating Committee n'.(); workedt out: in close, eo• believes it will he heard- and operation witli, the 'Ontario heeded. Federation 'iif' Agrictilture and The attitude 4,,,, Ontario in consultation with .,several "Hydra has indeed imppved of government ministries and this score. In the MayOune Finajdr Corporations. Hydra News, an editorial its departures from. viewpoint entitled Kilowatts previous practices, the new • and Cann very, clearly ex policy enables Hydro to. offer pressed -the hope that Ontario • , Affected property owners . the .• rban; - Rural and Key Respondents' Feelings Concerning a Futyure 'Genera g fte, Being Selected' in Huron Counity A RURAL SAMPLE O p po,s ed J KE"Z RESPONDENT'S 337o j/ Undecided . rtP In Favour Oppose h• a"r llttdec!ded. °• In Favour L00% :4!