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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 10Farm News 4 sn 4. Hy ro would run towers along fence lines CLINTON - The hearings resumed here on amount of land loss as compared t towers owess pared to 197 km for the east route, 201.5 for April 16 with Consolidated Board Chairman in the fields. He cited two studies from the the east -west route and 186.5 for the central - Robert Eisen issuing a request for a representative from the Northeastern Power Coordinating Council to be an expert witness to the hearings. Mr. Eisen said since both Ontario Hydro and the Foodland Hydro Committee have referred to the council on several occasions through the course of the hearings, a first- hand testimony from the council should be set up. He requested Ontario Hydro lawyer Bruce Campbell to arrange for the witness to be present when the hearings return to Guelph in August. The board will prepare a list of questions for the power council witness which will also be circulated to the two parties prior to the Guelph hearings for comments. Mr. Eisen also said the board will be mak- ing two recommendations to the divisional court regarding the structure of the hear- ings. They require a decision stating if newspaper advertisements are sufficient for the purpose of expropriation. If the answer is no, is mail notice prior or during the hearings sufficient notice for expropria- tion. They expect a court decision on the matter by June. `• Board member J. Ward Rodman opened the day's questioning by asking the Hydro panel on their policy for establishing hydro towers on farm land. In explaining the policy, Bill Scott of the Hydro panel, said the narrow based tower would be used when the lines are running diagonal across Class 1 to 4 agricultural land, and specialty crop land, but when following the lot lines, a conventional or wide -based tower would be used. Mr. Scott said the solid concrete founda- tion of the narrow -based towers would minimize weed growth, but weed control on the wide base towers is a concern with Hydro. • Mr. Rodman also asked the Hydro panel about the potential land loss with the wide based towers along the fence lines. He said he regarded both as having potentially great land loss for the farmers. The land loss, said Mr. Scott, with towers h Ridgetown and Kemptville A=°icultural col- leges which studied the loss of land due to towers. "They confirmed that the fence line is the best place to put them," said Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott also said that in Hydro discus- sions with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture prior to the setting of the transmission line routes, they were asked were the conventional single -pole towers and the narrow -based towers should be used on farm land. "They conceded that narrow -based lattice . towers should be used in the field, but not on the fence lines." said Mr. Scott. James Mills of the consolidated Hearing Board, asked the Hydro representatives about the land acquisition costs as com- pared to the construction costs. Glen Hoglund said 20 per cent of the capital costs are set aside for property acquisition. With regards to current right-of-ways owned by Hydro, Mr. Ijoglund said they own 80 per cent of the right-of-ways from Bradley Junction (near Esse) to Wingham, which is part of Hydro's eastern alternative route. He also said Hydro also owns 16 km of right-of-ways from the BNPD to. Glammis which could be used in the western route. In cross-examination of the Hydro panel, Tony McQuail, Chairman. of the Foodland Hydro Committee, asked them to chart the locations of the residence removal for the eastern (alternative) and the western (recommended) routes. The residence removals, said the hydro panel, would involve removals in Chepstow in Brant Township; in Greenock Township; west route. The cost for the route is also lower for the western route with a total of $142 -million, while the eastern route is $155 -million while the east -west and central -west routes would cost $159 million and $145 -million, respectively. The western route would involve 25 residences within 100 meters of the lines with one probable residence removal. The eastern route would result in 18 residences within 100 metres with four probable , removals, while the east route would in- volve two removals and the central west route would involve four removals. The length of transmission line along agricultural ,boundaries is 93.4 km for the western route while 58.8 km in the eastern route would be along the boundaries. In the east -west route, the length on agricultural boundaries would be 65.8 km and 96.6 for the central -west route. The Hydro represen- tatives stated the higher the number of kilometres, the greater the length along agriculture,.boundaries.'This represents 75 per centeof the western route being on or ad- jacent to agricultural boundaries. The west route would also involve less length through cash crrop r and affected, xed agricultural land, less total less effect on wetlands and least overall en- vironmental effect, than the other three routes studied, by Hydro, concluded the panel. Christopher Bancroft -Wilson, of the Hydro panel, said that during the setting of the routes, Hydro also did a study on the ef- fect of route construction could have on the -.... AGI~ 9 GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986—P .,',k1 lk******•itr**441 • M°HAWK R;`.�'�.,CEWAY 4 4 Sunday, M ;;y 4 Post Time 7:00 p.m. Price Includes: Bus. Program. Entry and Sports Dining Room, Buffet Maal. Bus leaves Sherwood's Garage 3:30 ®slfcte John Hrudon 324-8441 y Ev®nings. ' Robin Hood fours - 324-4340 Days , 4 4 4 Air 41, License 537405 '1 8000 Jackpot Must be won Be a player You could win et the Exeter Lions Dobber Bingo Sat., April 26/06 At South Huron Rec Centre, Exeter Bingo starts at 8 p.m. Plus specials and share the wealth Admission $1.00 per person EXTRA MAZDA 626's MEAN EXTRA GOOD DEALS 626 LX SEDAN ,Extraordinary handling and road poise •Dual electric black door mirrors •Power antenna •Fuii iogic auto reverse cassette deck ight in Culross, near Langside; in Tuckersmith, community. He stated Hydro used five east of Brucefield; in Usborne Township criterias for "the study, namely, employ - north -east of Exeter and in Caradoc ment, population, wages, temporry accom-Township, east of Strathroy. modation and business activity. Hydro representatives then outlined the The study, said Mr. Bancroft Wilson, con - reasons for choosing their western recom- eluded there would be some short-term ef- mended rouite over the east, east -west and fects such as the risein temporary accom- central west. modations during construction which may In recommending the western route, the.have an effect on the tourist trade. But, in Hydrorepresentative remarked it was the . the long term, the construction would have shortest route at 186.5 km in length, com- "no detrimental effects to the community." ••�efarm buildings would be removed along proposed routes CLINTON - In the third day of hearings on April 17, Tony McQuail of the Foodland Hydro' Committee asked the Hydro panel members to comment on the number of farm buildings which would be removed in the western . and eastern transmission routes. Bill Scott of the Hydro panel said the western route would involve the removal of three farm, buildings. These include a new implement shed in Ashfield Township; an older style barn on the township line of Stephen and Hay Townships and a couple of tobacco kilns near London which are also found on the eastern route. In the eastern route, a hog barn and residence would be removed east of Exeter; an older style barn would be removed in Morris Township; an older style barn in Greenock Township, as well as the tobacco kilns, said Mr. Scott. - Mr. McQuail asked what Hydro's policy was regarding restitution to the farmer for the removal of a farm building. In response, Mr. Scott said the moving of the building to another location on the pro- perty is one option. If the building cannot be moved, Hydro will build a comparable building on another location on the farm. The transmission line crossing at the Maitland and Bayfield Rivers was also an area which Mr. McQuail questioned the Hydro panel. He first asked how many towers were required to traverse each of the river valleys. At the Maitland River crossing, two towers would be required on the north side of the valley and one tower on the south side. The Bayfield River crossing would require one tower on each side of the valley. In assessing the crossings, Hydro representative Greg Neill said there was primarily second growth pine in both valleys. Mr. McQuail asked how mach of the pine would have to be cleared to accom- modate the towers in these areas was felt to have cost benefits as well as agricultural benefits. The eastern route was even less desirable than the west route from an agricultural standpoint. At this point, J. Ward Rodman of the hear- ing board.asked the Hydro panel if the east or west route is more valuable agricultural- ly. Both routes are similar in tern's of value of,`the resource to agriculture. But, it's the way that the lines would impact the resource that is important. The eastern route would have a greater impact on agriculture. The west route would maximize the use of farm boundaries," said Mr. Scott. In terms of Class 1 farm land, the western route would have far less impact than the eastern route, said Mr. Scott. In the western route, 58 km of transmission lines traverse Class 1 farm land, compared to 85 km on the eastern route. Transmission lines going through, special- ty crop land would be about the same in the eastern and western routes, said Mr. Scott. Lloyd Willert, representing the Hay Township ,membership in the. National Fatmei•s Union, questioned the Hydro panel regarding woodlots near his Zurich area farm. ' - Mr. Willert said he attended the interest group meeting in London last year and the message the farmers left with the Hydro. planners was to avoid the woodlots if at all possible. He asked if Hydro would consider putting the lines in the fields adjacent to the woodlots. Glen Hoglund of "the Hydro panel said Hydro had asked farmers in the Zurich area °at open houses whether they would prefer the towers moved into the fields to avoid the woodlots. However, there was no agreement among the farmers on this point. He also said there was one instance in the Zurich. area were the route was changed to avoid a woodlot. Mr. Willert also expressed doubts concer-. sia moved to avoid a woodlot, he should contact other farmers in the area in order to make a recommendation to the hearing board. Ian Seddo nner with the Ministry of Natural Resp ,"e"s (MNR)., also made a -submission on behalf of the MNR. He in- "quired about the environmental concerns in the crossing of the Bayfield and Maitland.. River, as well as petroleum resources in the area. He said the MNR has reviewed 1•lydro's impact study on the two areas of river cross- ings and has found them to he acceptable. "We've reviewed Hydro's report dealing with the study area and we can accept Hydro's recommendations at the ' river crossings for the most part. But, it will be subject to further discussions between Hydro and the Ministry of Natural Resources," said Mr. Seddon. He said the MNR's petroleum interests lie in Goderich Township approximately mid- way between the two rivers, with areas of Stephen Township and Stanley Township having petroleum potential. Turn to page 11 • "Probably most would be removed. With ning Hydros methods of dealing with the tower heights . and locations going farmers, stating Hydro was not willing to through, most of the vegetation will have to listen to the farmers' recommendations, but be cleared," said Mr. Neill. had unilaterally set the route without any Mr. McQuail alsq pointed out to the Hydro consultation. panel as to the revenue derived from • Hydro representative Christopher farmland in this area was significantly Bancroft -Wilson said they were always will - above the provincial area. He said the crop ing to listen to any recommendations on the sales per hectarg of land was $1,084 whole proposed route within the farming the provincial average was only $'776 dollars community. person sales per hectare. a "If comes to us and has a pro - Re also pointed ,...out this area had position and if we think it has merit, or the significantly higher investments in land, in landowner thinks it has merit, then we'll machinery and livestock and poultry than conAider it," said Mr. Bancroft -Wilson. the provincial average. Mt. Rodman of the hearing board further The Hydro panel said the reasons for their emphasized to Mr. Willert that if he has a selection of the western route was because it specific instance where a tower might be NEWBORN NEWS POLLOCK Rob, Ryan and Randy are "tickled pink" to announce the birth of their new babyi sister Raegan Nichole at AM&G"hospital on Mon., April 14, 1986 weighing in at 7 lbs. 131/2 ozs. Proud parents are Bill and Sandy. Ecstatic grandparents are John and Dorothy Scott of Saltford and Barb and Gord Pollock of Dunlop. ROZENQAL Jerry and Nancy Rozendal are happy to .: - nounce the safe arrival of their dao.{. er Katherine Nicole "Katie". A sister for Scott. Born April 15 at AM&G Hospital, Goderlch. DOLMAGE Doug and Karen (Walker) of Blyth are pleased to announce the birth of their first child, Datvn Lynn on April 15 at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, Goderlch weighing 8 lbs. 11 ozs. Proud grandparents are Verna and Don Jackson, Qoderich and Pearl and Roy Dolmage of RR 1 Londesboro. Second great -great grandchild for Mrs. Emma Rock of Mitchell. MacDONALD John, Carolyn and Amy are pleased to an- nounce the arrival of Lisa Christine 8 lbs. 101/2 ozs. Proud grandparents are William and Alice Porter and Donalda MacDonald all of Goderlch. DeMARCO Mario and Jeanette DeMarco (nee Ainslie) annotice the safe arrival of their first child Brandon Matthugh at Grace Hospital, Wind- sor on. April 12, 1986. 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