Township seeks way to stop fill

Concerns raised in a Scugog Standard story last week have municicpal and provincial officials looking into landfill practices at a Scugog property.

Township staff are looking into whether or not operations at a clean fill site along Lakeridge Rd. can be stopped, after consideration that the permit may have been “issued in error” in contradiction of environmental regulations, according to planning and public works commissioner Gene Chartier.

The decision came after discussion and the passing of a new fill and site alteration bylaw at this week’s council meeting, following discussion regarding similar sites around the township. At recent meetings, staff and council have attributed the current increase of such fill sites to both a weak Scugog bylaw and the tightening up of fill rules in neighbouring municipalities.

According to Mr. Chartier, the township may have erred by issuing a permit to an operation located within the borders of the Oak Ridges Moraine, which is subject to stringent environmental regulations. Mr. Chartier said that a legal opinion is now being sought by the township before taking any steps toward revoking the permit, adding that if the opinion is “cut and dry,” the township will likely “act on the bylaw’s provision.” The site is governed under the provisions of the township’s old fill bylaw and subject to any penalties contained within.

The new bylaw will now feature a ‘blanket restriction’ on fill dumps within the Oak Ridges Moraine, with a handful of exceptions, including site alteration directly related to building permits issued by the township or for purposes such as agriculture.

Concerns about the quality of fill being dumped at the Lakeridge Rd. site arose after residents alleged that questionable items were amongst the truckloads of fill being deposited there.

According to Ministry of the Environment (MOE) spokesperson Kate Jordan, an inspector was sent to the site last week to conduct an investigation of the fill content after receiving a complaint from the township, but found no evidence of chemical contamination or other material not permitted in clean fill.

However, photos obtained by The Scugog Standard, allegedly taken of the site last weekend, show items such as PVC piping, cinder blocks, crushed chemical drums and plastic chemical pails clearly sticking out of the piles of fill allegedly on the property.

The site discussed, located along Lakeridge Rd. south of Regional Rd. 21, is maintained by Earthworx Industries, which advertises the property as a ‘clean fill dump site’ with a heliport. To date, no stop order has been issued and no illegal or improper fill has been confirmed by the MOE at the site.

Link: Township seeks way to stop fill 

Relay supports Oak Ridges Moraine

The Moraine for Life Adventure Relay has something for both veteran adventure racers and weekend warriors looking for a brand new challenge.

On June 20, the Oak Ridges Trail Association (ORTA) hosts the fourth annual Moraine for Life Adventure Relay. The non-stop relay team event kicks off from Church Hill Road in Gore's Landing on Rice Lake at 7:30 a.m. then stretches west 160 kilometres to wrap up at King City between 7 p.m. and midnight. All proceeds go to the ORTA to help protect the moraine's healthy ecosystem and heritage, extend the Oak Ridges Trail and encourage responsible land use.

"We have grown from seven participating teams three years ago to 33 this year, making this one of the largest events of its type in Canada," stated relay committee chairman, Brian Millage. "It's also a cross moraine-supported race, with teams representing communities from Peel, York, Durham and Northumberland all challenging last year's winning ream from Uxbridge, the Trail Capitol of Canada."

The course is divided into 14 relay stages of varying distances consisting of water, road and trail portions. With the exception of the two-person canoe stage, one team member will complete each stage; however, people may do multiple stages. Teams may consist of up to 15 members. Times will be recorded for each stage and the team with the lowest cumulative time wins. In the spirit of adventure, participants must be self-sufficient. Each participant is responsible for bringing and transporting whatever supplies (equipment and nutritional) they may require during their stage.

For additional information or to donate, visit www.oakridgestrail.org or www.moraineadventure.com.

Link: Northumberland News

407 extension will take seven years

MP Dean Del Mastro says it will be built, but admits he’s annoyed that federal government has no say in the timeline

It’s going to take seven years and $8 billion to extend Highway 407 50 kilometres to Highway 115, creating about 13,000 jobs.

MPP Jeff Leal says the project has been broken into two phases, with the first phase finishing at Simcoe Street in Oshawa in 2015.

No one expected the environmental assessment to take two and a half years, he says, which is why the roadwork is taking so long, but he states the assessment is now complete for both phases.
The connection to Highway 115 has moved south, MPP Leal adds, to deal with environmental issues when going through the Oak Ridges Moraine. He expects the two highways to connect near Durham Concession 8.
“It does present some environmental challenges,” he says.

MPP Leal notes the original 407 was built in three phases.

As the community continues to grow, he says the will be more of a need for the highway.
“It’s in all of our best interests,” he says.

If MP Dean Del Mastro could make it move ahead quicker by showing up with a shovel, he says he would.
“I think there’s going to be a number of folks disappointed,” he says of the time line.

Despite supplying half the funds, he says it’s frustrating to not have any say over putting it to use.
But, he emphasizes the extension will be completed as it’s critical to both the function of Highway 407 and critical for the region to give businesses access to markets and make up for the region’s infrastructure deficit.
For now, he says local businesses will deal with seven more years of traffic jams when heading into the Toronto area.

“Ultimately, it needs to be built,” he states.

This region, he says, has not received the same advantages in infrastructure as other comparable places. There are four main aspects to infrastructure, he says: highways, airports, rail, and broadband. We’ve done well in some areas, but are lacking in others, like rail, he adds.

In the coming weeks, he expects to release more information about his independent study of the Metrolinx report on bringing passenger rail service to Peterborough.

“I think people are going to be encouraged,” he says.

Link: http://www.mykawartha.com/news/article/833469--407-extension-will-take-seven-years

Rural Clarington residents want say on proposed wind farms

Residents are bracing for possible winds of change in Clarington.

Two wind farm proposals are being considered in Clarington, which has some rural residents concerned about the consequences of wind turbines in their area.

"We are smack dab in the middle of both sites," said Heather Rutherford, who lives in Kirby. "We live on a farm and our kids are the fourth generation to live on this farm. It's a property that's important to the family, not just valuable but a lot of sentimental history."

Ms. Rutherford is the spokesperson for 'Clarington Wind Concerns', a group of local citizens who live in the study area of the wind farms.

The two wind farms, one by Energy Farming called ZEP Wind Farm Ganaraska and the other by Clarington Wind Farm Leader Energy are both in the early stages.

ZEP Wind Farm Ganaraska is studying the area from Mosport Park to Kendalwood Park to see if it's suitable for a wind farm. Clarington Wind Farm Leader Energy is considering the land from Kirby to Port Granby.

"It's really important for us to be in complete harmony with residents in this project. We take noise and concerns very seriously," said Ariel Bautista, Clarington Wind Farm Leader Energy project coordinator.

Ms. Rutherford said residents are worried about possible health impacts, from sleep disturbance to migraines. With Kirby Public School in the middle of the study area, the group is concerned about whether the turbines could impact developing children. They are also worried about disrupting the natural habitat on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

The noise is also a concern for the group. Provincial legislation has limited the noise from wind turbines to 40 decibels. Ms. Rutherford has concerns about how the noise level can be measured and the restrictions enforced.

Residents are also concerned their property values could decline.

"We're really concerned about the health effects. We're really concerned about our kids. We're protecting our kids," said Ms. Rutherford. "I don't want these in my backyard, but I don't want them in your backyard either, until they can prove it won't harm families."

But studies have found no direct link between wind turbines and health impacts, said Mr. Bautista. Over time property values around wind farms remain similar or even increase slightly, according to the project manager.

Mr. Bautista said Clarington Wind Farm Leader Energy is proposing a small 10-megawatt project. He said the wind turbines will be set back from homes beyond the 550 metres the Province mandates. At that distance the wind turbines Leader Energy plans to use will be no louder than the hum of a quiet office, he added.

The turbines will produce green energy and setbacks mean the project will protect the agricultural land from urban sprawl, according to Mr. Bautista. The company is consulting with conservation authorities to arrange the final placement out of flight paths and away from streams.

"This is a community-owned project by Ontario residents," said Mr. Bautista. "We encourage people to approach us with their opinions. We do want to go forward transparently."

In an effort to create more renewable energy in Ontario, the Province passed the Green Energy Act last spring, which took control for these projects out of the hands of municipalities. The Province now approves new alternative energy and has control over safety regulations.

The doesn't mean local government has no involvement. The proponent has to consult with the municipality on municipal service connections, traffic management plans during construction and operation, rehabilitation of temporary disturbance areas and any municipal infrastructure damaged during construction, emergency management procedures and safety protocols and proposed site landscaping.

Clarington council asked for a staff report on the proposed wind farms.

"We know that wind turbines are the responsibility of the provincial government," said Councillor Charlie Trim. "In order to talk to residents it would be wise to have some details."

Council has no power to approve or reject a wind farm, if it meets provincial regulations. There is no need for a zoning change or other municipally regulated public review and approval process.

"We get to comment but our comments are quite limited," said Faye Langmaid, Clarington acting director of planning. "Our comments are limited to roads, service connections and other things like emergency procedures."

Residents will have more freedom to voice their concerns. Under Green Energy Act regulations, the project proponents must give public notice to neighbours within 1.5 kilometres of the proposed facility. The proponents also hold a community consultation meeting, so residents and interested parties can be consulted. ZEP held a community meeting last July at the Orono Town Hall. Leader Energy is expected to hold its first required public meeting this summer.

The proponents must show community consultation and explain how they tried to address residents' concerns, according to Ms. Langmaid.

'Clarington Wind Concerns' is inviting residents to a public information meeting on Thursday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Orono Arena. There will be several guest speakers, including Durham MPP John O'Toole, and a chance for the public to raise their concerns.

"A lot of people I speak to don't know the development is proposed for this area," said Ms. Rutherford.

The group is hoping the meeting will educate the public.

"We're hoping to facilitate a community discussion," said Ms. Rutherford. "There's been no discussion in our community until this point."

Rural Clarington residents want say on proposed wind farms

No Signs To Warn Motorists Of Reptile's Presence

NORTHUMBERLAND -- Residents of Cavan Road in Bewdley are concerned for the safety of the snapping turtles that nest on their street.

Cavan Road is situated in the Oak Ridges Moraine and is an officially protected wetland. Snapping turtles are one of the many species of wildlife that make their homes in the area, and this is the time of year when the females seek out sandy or gravelly areas to make their nests in. The turtles often make use of the gravel shoulders along roadways for this purpose, and every year such nests can be spotted on the sides of Cavan Road. They have even become a yearly topic of conversation for the residents of the area, according to one such man, Paul Clark.

"We always talk about how many turtles we have," he said. "It's quite a sight."

But there is obvious danger for the turtles and their young in choosing a spot so close to the roadway. The female turtles use their long term memory to return to the same nesting spot each year, regardless of the danger. Already this year, turtles have been crushed by passing vehicles during the nesting process. Just as damaging is when they are startled during the egg laying process, which leads to them becoming 'egg bound', a fatal condition that leaves them unable to pass the eggs inside of them.

The mortality rate of the snapping turtles, which are designated as a 'special concern species' under Ontario's Endangered Species Act of 2007, has motivated the residents of the street to try and help. Mr. Clark himself has been in contact with the Ministry of Natural Resources in the hopes of having signs placed on the road which will inform drivers of the turtles' presence. Accidents are inevitable, but if drivers are looking out for the turtles, they are less likely to happen.

The residents are also speaking out against a proposed ATV route that would include their stretch of Cavan Road, believing the presence of such vehicles would only heighten the danger for the beleaguered turtles.

The Cavan Street residents don't want to shut their area off to visitors, according to Mr. Clark, who points out that seeing the turtles could be an interesting tourism opportunity for some. They just want their visitors to keep an eye out for the animals and to show them the proper respect.

If the snapping turtles and their young are to survive, they will need that respect.

Source: Northumberland News