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The Citizen, 2006-03-09, Page 7At the table S.T.C. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2006. PAGE 7. Source Water Protection Act sparks concerns Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell and MP Paul Steckle listen to farmers' concerns at the annual Federation of Agriculture's Member of Parliament meeting this past weekend. At right is Huron Federation president Nick Whyte. (Keith Floulston photo) By Keith Roulson Citizen publisher The topic of the provincial government's proposed Source Water Protection Act brought a flood of concerns when farm groups met their senior politicians, Saturday. Several groups raised fears about the new act in their briefs to Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce and Paul Steckle, MP for Huron Bruce. Simon Logtenberg, president of the Huron County Pork Producers said the government needs to make financing available to help farmers implement the program. After a presentation to the Huron committee from Sam Bradshaw, an environmental advisor to Ontario Pork, pork producers were very concerned about the ramifications of the act, Logtenberg said. Ken Scott, chair of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture's property committee was concerned that farmers have adequate representation on committees formed to implement source water protection. Les Falconer of the Huron County Beef Producers Association worried about who determines what is the catchment area for a municipal well. John Maaskant, representing the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) said his group's concerns with the legislation have been expressed and he has provided a list to Mitchell. They also have concerns about the implementation of the legislation, he said. Bill Dowson, mayor of the Municipality of Bluewater, said as a councillor the legislation was starting to scare him. More and more work and expense are being downloaded onto the municipalities, he said. "Please don't download enforcement (of the Source Water Protection Act) onto the municipalities," he pleaded with Mitchell. But Mitchell said it will be three years before the act is in place and the government has deliberately given lots of time for consultation and research. "My concern is that during that period there will be cost projections (made)," she said. The benefit of bringing source water protection down to a local level is to allow more focus on what are environmentally fragile areas and then provide the funding needed, Mitchell said. The long lead time would allow for enough consultation that the same problems encountered with the nutrient management act won't be repeated, Mitchell said. Paul Mistele, vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture agreed that the farming community doesn't want to "go back down the road of nutrient management". OFEC has put 72 recommendations forward to the government, he said. By Keith Roulson Citizen publisher Huron County council, Thursday, overturned a recommendation from its planning, agriculture and public works committee that a Central Huron family be given a $1,000 discount on the fee for a zoning change. Though council has rarely agreed to the many requests for a reduction in various planning fees over the years, the committee had proposed a rebate of $1,000 in the $2,675 county portion of planning amendment zoning change fee for the estate of Marten Steenstra. Planning staff had recommended against the rebate but committee members felt there had been improper notification when Central Huron had pissed a new official plan for the township which had designated the entire 80-acre parcel in the former Goderich Twp. as a gravel operation. The family now wants to sever a house on the property from the gravel operation but must obtain a planning and zoning change for the residential part of the property. They argued that they had not been informed that the farm's designation Maaskant worried about people getting too carried away with their fears. "This is an issue that can very easily be blown out of proportion by our fears," he said. He noted that the act covers only municipal wells, even though some of the environmental officials would have liked to see all wells covered. was being changed. Scott Tousaw, director of planning and development, explained that the late Mr. Steenstra did know about the change but his family probably didn't. The change was made at the request of someone acting for Mr. Steenstra in changing the use of the land for the gravel pit. Because the change was part of a new official plan, no specific notification was sent to the family. The change was considered at public meetings which the family could have attended, but chose not to. "The Steenstras admit they didn't take part in the public meetings," he said. "There was no mistake (in notification)," said Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt in arguing against the rebate. "It's up to people to go the the (public) meeting," agreed Ben Van Diepenbeek of Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh. "We think it is dangerous to agree they should get a rebate because they didn't attend a public meeting so couldn't know about the change," said Tousaw. In a recorded vote councillors voted 9-5 against giving the rebate. County votes against planning fee discount , oft Cw_i_w_)LAIWiLaziLaALL04Lw)LLLit4LkIAMWLANwi*ACto_ioi in for Hop to the Wingham Sales Arena for Good Shoes and a Good Bed If you're not in one, you're in the other. The Wingham Sales Arena has lots of both at Fantastic Savings! See our selection - compare our prices anywhere Come on in and get a GREAT DEAL on a new BOX & MATTRESS SET Available In: Single Sets from $190. Double Sets from $290. Queen Sets from $329. 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