Still Looking For Answers

This is a letter originally sent to The Millbrook Times, and is reprinted here with the author's permission......

By now the “Response Summary from Public Open House” of September the 9th, 2009 have been received by a lot of us and, frankly speaking, there is no response as such to most important questions, just going around them…


Some points to ponder:

1. A referendum CAN be held on any issue

2. Hours have been spent in consultation with the public about the dam and the mill – this topic should not be discussed at all, both mill and dam is a part of our heritage and ARE TO STAY here. On the other hand, there was not much time spent on the major and so important issue of taking water from Millbrook for the Slots and building enormous and totally unnecessary New Town of Fraserville.

3. Yes…groundwater levels are higher than in the 1970’s. This is because they reached historic lows in the 1930’s due to severe land clearing and it is only by the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees that the water levels have risen. The increased water levels have little to do with climate change, but according to GRCA, are due to reforestation. Aquifer recharge is done through precipitation; however, precipitation takes decades to reach the aquifer. There is only that much water down there…and if we take too much then there won’t be much left. And then what?

4. Two renown hydro-geologists state that the Millbrook wells are hydraulically connected to Baxter Creek, and the dramatic increase in water taking will have a very serious effect on the Creek. The increase in the drawdown area could possibly expose the water supply to contamination. The area is rated “High” in Intrinsic Suspectibility to Contamination by the Ministry of the Environment.

5. The consultant’s report points out that similar pipelines have been constructed elsewhere and cites Lindsay and Elora as an example; the Lindsay wells are connected directly to Scugog River and the 8 wells that service Elora and Fergus are connected to Grand River. Not the same thing at all.

6. From present water usage of 656,000 liters daily (less than 146,000 Imperial gallons) to a proposed 5,347,000 liters a day (almost 1.2 million gallons) - a huge increase, roughly 800%. How long the aquifer will last? What will happen if there is a several years of draught as we did experience just recently – only in 2008 we were asked by the Otonabee Conservation to reduce our water consumption by 10% or more.

7. The equivalent land space as in Fraserville is available for development in and around Millbrook and it could be done the way that benefits everybody – if done right.

8. The Otonabee River is an expensive alternative, but still an alternative. The cost of clean-up if Millbrook water supply becomes contaminated or compromised will be astronomical in comparison.

9. Why build another city when there is a large town of Peterborough which can offer everything for the development AND jobs creation? Why is it so important to do that? Why would people buy houses in Fraserville when they can live in a place with ready infrastructure? What are those phantom industries? Before the tax revenue is collected, there should be those who are going to pay….

It seems that this Township has no answers or is not willing to give proper replies to the questions asked at the meeting. The Council has been elected to represent the interest of the electorate; it does not seem to happen here.

Eva Hans