Councillors here have no interest in an unsolicited offer from Nestlé Waters to transfer ownership of the Middlebrook well to the township.
Following an in-camera session on Jan. 16, Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton explained the closed discussion related to a Dec. 12 Nestlé Waters Canada presentation as well as recent concerns/questions raised and additional legal advice from the township’s lawyer.
Linton stated council’s resolution coming out of the closed session “directs staff to advise Nestlé Waters Canada that (the township) has no interest in pursuing the unsolicited proposal set out in the Sept. 30 draft letter.”
The resolution also states the township is “not engaging in any discussion with Nestlé related to the potential operation of a water bottling facility in Centre Wellington.”
The resolution was moved by councillor Kirk McElwain, seconded by councillor Mary Lloyd and quickly adopted by council without further discussion.
Linton explained that on Sept. 30, Nestlé forwarded to the township an unsolicited draft letter seeking to enter into discussions with the township on “a potential agreement to transfer ownership” of its recently purchased Middlebrook property “with certain conditions.”
Linton added that on Oct. 17, Ontario announced its proposal to establish a moratorium on the issuance of new and expanded permits for water bottling until Jan. 1, 2019.
As a result, Linton said “the township has not taken any action to address or respond to this draft letter.”
He added that, as directed by council on Oct. 31, 2016, the township sent letters to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Climate Change Glen Murray and Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott advising that the township supported the moratorium and the comprehensive review of water bottling rules.
“It is the position of Centre Wellington that it opposes any proposals for the use of groundwater in the township for water bottling that would adversely impact the sustainability of the township’s water supply for its present and future needs,” Linton said on Jan. 16.
He pointed to Centre Wellington’s ongoing work to assess drinking water needs, taking into account current and future growth with components of that review including participation in the Grand River Conservation Authority on its scoped Tier III water quantity assessment study set to be completed in March 2018.
In addition, the township has approved capital funding directed at working on its own long-term water master plan, to be completed by December 2018.
“It is the intention of the municipality to actively participate in the province’s regulatory review process during the moratorium with a view to ensure municipalities have the power to control their long-term water supply,” Linton said on Monday.
