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Shelburne Free Press https://shelburnefreepress.ca/?p=13694 Export date: Wed Jul 3 23:21:22 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Turbine company replaces trees in Melancthon On Saturday June 6th, hundreds of Melancthon residents stood in long line ups at the Dufferin Wind Power Inc. (DWPI) power building on Country Road 21 to pickup replacement trees from the corporation. The “free tree giveaway,” was part of DWPI's contractual obligation with the Township of Melancthon to replace trees that had been destroyed as a result of the construction of their 49 turbines over 6000 acres of Melancthon. As luck would have it, the weather was excellent June 6th keeping residents in good spirits as they stood for an hour or more for their opportunity to get up to five trees from the corporation, as well as a ticket for a burger off their grill. Citizens seemed please with the efforts of the company to “give back to the community,” although many seemed to be unaware that it was the road use agreement with the Township that obligated DWPI to replace trees removed from Township property and road allowances. According to Melancthon Mayor Darren White, it was his idea to have the company replace the nearly 1300 destroyed trees they owed to the Township by giving them to Melancthon residents so that they could plant and care for them. White said, “It was my opinion that if those trees were simply planted in road allowances and left there that 60-75% of them would be dead inside two years. As a result, I asked Council to endorse a plan to ask DWPI to offer those trees free to residents of Melancthon, knowing that if you plant a tree on your property, you will take care of it and the end result will be more healthy trees…contributing to the overall tree canopy in the Township.” White said, “Council agreed this was a good idea and when DWPI was asked to do this they readily agreed. The only credo that the Township had was that they be offered to Melancthon Township residents only.” DWPI's Connie Roberts of Corporate Communications put out a press release June 8th saying, “The Dufferin Wind Power Tree Giveaway” …was a great success, with 24 volunteers and staff distributing more than 1,725 trees to residents and property owners of Melancthon Township. In accordance with the agreement between Dufferin Wind Power and the Township of Melancthon, a minimum of 1,295 trees were to be given away to replace those lost during the construction of the Dufferin Wind Farm.” Event Organizer Michelle Sage was quoted as “very happy to see that number exceeded by at least 430 trees.” Sage reported that the “Tree Giveaway was accompanied by a catered barbecue with more than 500 people attending. At least 325 orders were filled on Saturday, and all the trees were distributed to their new owners before the end of the four-hour event.” In the press release, Dufferin Wind Power acknowledged “the help of Glenn Lundy and team, Dillon Consulting, GE” and their “own staff for working diligently and courteously to ensure our Melancthon neighbours received their trees.” Sage noted that “Approximately 50 leftover trees will be delivered to the Township of Melancthon.” Melancthon residents like real-estate broker Bruce Gale thought it was an “excellent event that was giving back to the Community,” commenting that the company had “a lot of bad publicity.” In his business, Mr. Gale said the some of his clients were not bothered by the turbines, but that “others won't go near them.” Noshir Mirza who owns a farm in Melancthon with his wife Putli said he was very “impressed with the event and happy with the size of the trees.” Mr. Mirza, who has a DWPI turbine on his land, said, “It was a good move on Council's part and he was impressed with how DWPI came through.” Jacob Blokzyl, a Melancthon tree farmer and supporter of the green movement, said he was impressed with the “variety of trees DWPI was supplying, especially hardwoods” and that planting trees could “only be positive.” Dufferin Wind Power Inc. has been the centre of much controversy since the turbine project began with citizen complaints in Melancthon about road allowance contraventions, stray electricity, the safety of treated poles, concerns about water contamination, and general complaints about turbine placement too close to residential properties. Shelburne Council also dealt with a barrage of complaints and contraventions reported by their engineer when the DWPI underground transmission line was constructed alongside the rail corridor through town last summer. DWPI company executives greeted residents at the June 6th event, and by all accounts, residents at the event seemed pleased to take responsibility for the trees. Mayor White, who stood in the line with fellow ratepayers Saturday, said, “The event looked like it was well attended and I believe DWPI gave away more trees than they were contractually obligated too. There are some hard feelings on both sides of this issue, but this event shows that when you are willing to talk reasonably, good things happen… and more trees is a good thing.” By Marni Walsh |
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Post date: 2015-06-11 09:56:05 Post date GMT: 2015-06-11 13:56:05 Post modified date: 2015-06-17 22:04:15 Post modified date GMT: 2015-06-18 02:04:15 |
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