The Department of National Defence (DND) says due to the impacts of COVID-19, it is extending its public engagement period on TC Energy’s proposed hydroelectric project at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford.
The deadline is now September 30th, 2020 (It had been July 31st).
The DND says in a statement, “We are committed to maintaining good relationships with our neighbours and keeping them informed on how we manage our property by providing opportunities for public engagement.”
It adds, “We also recognize our legal duty to ensure that meaningful consultations take place between the Crown and Indigenous communities whenever we contemplate decisions or actions that may have an adverse impact on potential or established Aboriginal or treaty rights.”
The DND says those consultations are in progress, adding “We will ensure that we hear and respond to Indigenous interests and concerns.”
You can comment on the project by emailing ThirdPartyAccess@forces.gc.ca
TC Energy is proposing a facility it says would provide 1,000 megawatts of clean energy by drawing water from Georgian Bay, pumping that water from a low-lying reservoir when demand for electricity is low to a higher-elevation reservoir.
The company says the water would be released into turbines when demand for electricity is high. It expects to create about 20 full-time jobs to operate the facility, and hundreds temporarily during the construction period of the project.
TC Energy notes on its website, it's in the very early stages of the project and notes there are numerous levels of assessment and approvals required.
A group of citizens who have concerns about the project called Save Georgian Bay say it could create noise pollution, kill aquatic life, pollute the environment during the construction phase, disrupt the clarity of the water (turbidity), which they worry will affect tourism and also affect the feeding ability of shoreline birds.
They're also concerned high tension power lines will be put in from Meaford to Essa Township near Barrie.
Meanwhile, Meaford's municipal staff highlighted in a June 1st report to council, concerns about water turbidity, impact on fisheries, light, noise and traffic especially during construction and the proximity of the municipal water intake (6.6 kilometres south of the proposed outfall).