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The Provincial Government and Bruce Power should be taking a
very close look at the monetary shortfall in Saugeen Shores that
is being created by this project (Bruce New Build)," said Deputy
Mayor Doug Freiburger at Monday's Town Council meeting.
Freiburger was questioning Duncan Moffett and Melissa Mayhew of Golden Associates who presented the Environmental Assessment (EA) report related to the project. He went on to say that, "Tax revenues will go to the County with the host community (Kincardine) receiving the bulk of it. In the meantime, this area will see a dramatic impact on the medical requirements, ambulance service, police and fire services - all due to the growth in population because of this project and Bruce Power should be coming to the table." According to the Golden consultants, some of the long-term options surrounding the project are to have some or all of the Bruce B units replaced or additions added to bring the total up to 12 reactors, which would provide one third of Ontario's hydro capacity. Bruce Power is currently considering the types of reactors that are available including the CANDU heavy-water type that is now on-site along with one manufactured in the United States, another being used in Finland and France and yet another built by General Electric. Construction of the project is expected to cost between $10 and $13 billion and will employ some 4300 workers over ten years, in addition to those presently on-site. New build reactors would last approximately 60 years with 1,940 long-term jobs created. Of the present workforce, more than one-third lives in Saugeen Shores, one-third in Kincardine nd the remainder in outlying areas. Despite several open-house style public meetings held throughout the area's communities, Mayhew revealed, when asked by Councilor Serda, that attendance overall was low. "The total turnout for the five meetings held in November was between 120 to 150 people. At the workshop held at the Bruce Power Visitors' Centre, only 45 people attended.
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(continued) While Mayhew asserted that feedback had been generally positive, she admitted that some people have raised some concerns such as how fuel would be managed and what waste management conditions have been put in place. Questions were also asked concerning the influx of workers and how that would impact housing and traffic. Serda contended that there are, in fact, many people who are opposed to the project. "There is a definite lack of monetary support here, a lack of affordable housing and other issues. Is Bruce Power going to seriously consider the impact that is happening and help to provide monetary solutions?" Moffett pointed out that Bruce Power had contributed $5 million into the community through supporting projects such as the hospital MRI, Paisely Medical Centre and the Bruce county Museum among others. The EA looks at issues including: physical aspects such as water quality, geology and radioactivity and human health; natural pertain to surrounding land and water; socio-economic factors such as Aboriginal concerns and Cultural and Historical Heritage. According to sources, no one from Bruce Power or Golden Associates has contacted the Municipal Heritage Committee, which is charged by the Town to advise on those issues of cultural and historical heritage. A panel headed up by three to five experts will take the EA and determine whether or not the issues the communities are concerned with are addressed in a satisfactory was. Hearing will be heard by the Ministry of the Environment . Beginning in May a draft impact statement will be available and through 2009 people will be able to again participate. Additional information is available at www.brucepower.com.
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