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Medical officer of health calls for halt to wind farms By Liz Dadson |
Huron-Kinloss council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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Wind farms are causing a disruption in the rural community and for that reason, they should be halted until more is known about them. That's the word from Dr. Hazel Lynn, Grey-Bruce medical officer of health. Speaking at the Huron-Kinloss council meeting Monday night (Aug. 16), she said it's unfortunate that the people who should be in charge of local planning issues - mainly the municipalities - are not able to make decisions about wind farms. The Green Energy Act has transferred that power to the province. "More people are affected by these developments when the setbacks are only 550 metres," she said. "The recommendation would be, then, to make the setbacks longer. Then it's less likely that people will be affected." She said residents near the Ripley wind farm are finding that the closer they are to the windmills, the more they feel the detrimental health effects of the project. "The setbacks are too short," said Lynn. "We should stop putting up windmills until we know more about these effects." She said the same symptoms are occurring throughout the area where wind farms are located, and about five to 10 per cent of the people are affected. "It's disrupting communities and that's not healthy," said Lynn. "We're on exactly the same wave-length," agreed councillor Jim Hanna. Also with wind farm development, the township has agreed to participate in a joint meeting with the Municipality of Huron East and any other municipalities affected by proposed wind farms to test a low frequency noise bylaw (wind turbine). Councillor Don Murray said the test bylaw would go to a judge to see whether it would stand up in court.
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"The municipalities in this working group are being asked to chip in to cover the cost," he said. "Our residents would like us to do something about wind turbines," said Hanna. "We have to support this, we really have no choice." Council agreed to participate in the test bylaw and to help finance it."If it works, it would be a great tool for us," said Hanna. Murray also attended the windmill working group in connection with the Arran-Elderslie bylaw which would give local building officials control over wind turbines through the issuance of building permits. Councillor Anne Eadie was to also sit on this group but has indicated she can no longer do so. Mayor Mitch Twolan will take on that job. Murray said the group also wants a citizen representative. However, there are concerns the group is going to become too big and cumbersome. By the same token, he said there are many citizens who have a working knowledge of the issues surrounding wind farms. Twolan will be officially appointed to the group in September.
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