More than a dozen members of the Manvers Gone With the Wind group were at the Lindsay education centre on Tuesday (Feb. 9) to hear how Trillium Lakelands District School Board trustees, via videoconference, would deal with a motion put forward by trustee Don Alton.
Energy Farming Ontario proposes to construct up to 30 wind turbines in the Bethany area. The Settlers Landing Snowy Ridge Wind Park project spans east to Porter Road, west to the Manvers-Scugog Line, north to Lifford Road and south to Telecom Road.
Two schools - Rolling Hills and Grandview public school - are within the proposed site. Concern for the safety of children attending the schools led the group to seek the school board's assistance in identifying possible health effects prior to development; echoing a letter sent to the board late last year by City of Kawartha Lakes council.
Since presenting it as a notice of motion on Jan. 26, Mr. Alton had amended the motion to remove 'in principle' and add a recommendation for greater setbacks around schools.
Trustee Elaine Beatty expressed concerns over the motion, asking for clarification as to if the motion was meant to potentially influence permit approvals.
She was assured this was not the intention of the motion.
"They just want to have the study done in advance," explained Mr. Alton.
Director of education Larry Hope also expressed concerns over removing 'in principle', citing, if the matter becomes a legal issue for Gone With the Wind, the school board could be liable for costs.
As a result, the words were returned to the motion.
The motion was further amended to remove the added statement regarding setbacks as well as sending a letter to more than a dozen agencies and individuals, as well as all MPPs, MPs, health unit medical officers, school boards and municipalities. Trustee Judy Saunders supported the latter change, citing there was no need to distribute the motion to so many others as it would be "on public record" if approved by the board.
"I would leave it there," she added.
All but one trustee - Ms Beatty - voted in favour of the much-adjusted motion.
While the motion must still be approved by the board at its Feb. 23 regular meeting, Heather Stauble, Gone With the Wind member, is pleased the local board has joined a growing number of schools boards and 48 municipalities in requesting the independent health study. She hopes the province will take notice, put a moratorium on further wind projects and calls for the study.
She cites potential health problems caused by wind turbines, including tinnitis, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and headaches, the environmental impact on the Oak Ridges Moraine as well as livestock and wildlife, and the need for greater setbacks - the minimum is 550 metres but 1.5 kilometres is recommended - are key issues which need to be addressed before any permits are issued for the project.
"If they can solve all those problems and wind energy turns out to be the efficient solution we're being led to believe, then there may be a place in our infrastructure," said Ms Stauble. "There is a much greater cost to this than we realize. . . If people are going to become sick because these are too close to homes and schools, then it's too great a cost."
MyKawartha Article: Wind turbine motion blows through school board.
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