Some landowners in Huron County seem dead set against the proposed G2G (Goderich to Guelph) trail along former railway lands.
In Wellington County, the matter is pretty much a moot point as those former rail lines in Wellington and Waterloo Region have long been established at the Kissing Bridge Trail which stretches from Guelph to Millbank.
A email sent to the Wellington Advertiser office by huronlandowners@tcc.on.ca indicated that numerous adjacent agricultural landowners opposed to the development of the proposed Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail.
That trail would extend the use of already existing trails along the former rail line and create a corridor trail stretching from Goderich to the city of Guelph.
Those in opposition felt those proposing the G2G trail had not included adjacent agricultural landowners as part of the process.
Additionally, the email stated the landowner concerns had not been addressed by Huron County either.
According to Huron County’s communications and grants coordinator, that group is scheduled as a delegation to Huron County council in July.
Opponents contended there are sections already leased along the trail by municipalities and individuals, not G2G Inc., therefore the full trail way cannot be opened.
Along the trail there are many sections that are unpassable or extremely difficult to navigate.
Opponents also contend the trail will negatively impact farming operations along the trail including livestock and field crops.
They asked “Will the tourism dollars potentially made from this trail even come close to the agricultural income that will be lost because of it?”
Wellington County
In Wellington County, the G2G trail would encompass the already developed Kissing Bridge Trail which runs for 42km along the former rail line from Millbank to Guelph.
In an interview with the Advertiser, Wellington County planner Sarah Wilhelm noted the province owns the abandoned Canadian Pacific right-of-way, which in turn is leased jointly by Wellington County and Waterloo Region for use as a recreation trail.
According to the Kissing Bridge Trailway website the right-of-way was abandoned by CP rail in 1988 and the trail was established a decade later.
While traversing rural farmland there are clear rules for those using the trail including reminders not to leave the trail or to go onto farm properties.
In addition users are reminded to give space to farm vehicles on the trails and on adjacent roadways.
The trail is also part of the current listing of Wellington County trails.
G2G Response
In response to concerns raised Doug Cota, chair, Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. stated “The G2G Rail Trail Huron/Perth project has been ongoing for almost five years now, we have had and continue to have regular monthly meetings with county representatives, OFA and any landowners interested in attending – to this point there has been little or no attendance on behalf of the landowners.”
Cota added that Perth and Huron counties have had two information meetings each, to engage the landowners and discuss potential concerns. A list of concerns was presented by the OFA (Ontario Federation of Agriculture) on behalf of the landowners, all of which were addressed to the Province ,Counties and OFA’s satisfaction.
He stated “when this section of rail line was decommissioned by the CPR in the 1980s it was purchased by the province and set aside as green space and a rail trail – a portion of the right of way was developed in the 90s as a multi-use trail in partnership with Wellington County and the Region of Waterloo, becoming the Kissing Bridge Trail which runs from Guelph to Millbank”
Cota added “At the other end the County of Huron and the Maitland Valley Trail Assoc developed the Goderich to Auburn Rail Trail that runs from Goderich to the Maitland River at Auburn. Both of these trails have run with little or no complaints or problems for 20 years.”
He explained Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. came out of the idea and need of connecting these two trails and making one trail that would be the 401 of trails in the area.
The trail will be managed very much like the Elora Cataract Trail and The Kissing Bridge Trail – it will be opened in stages, as deemed safe to do so, he said.
He added the G2G Rail Advisory Committee has not been able to do much in the way of trial improvements to date other than installing a bridge east of Millbank which was under lease and part of the Kissing Bridge Trail.
He anticipated that on July 1, Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. will enter a leasing arrangement with the province to manage the further development and opening of the un-leased sections of trial in Perth and Huron Counties.
“As I am sure you are aware, a trail of this size, connecting the communities along its length, brings with it a significant economic impact – it will add to local infrastructure and Active Transportation, making the communities more desirable to live, work and play in.”
Huron County response
In May 2015, letters were sent from the County of Huron, Planning and Development Department to property owners along the former CPR corridor and those attending a public meeting from the previous year.
In October, 2014, Huron County Council directed staff to assemble a G2G Trail Working Committee to work through: the identified issues, develop a stewardship model, develop cost and phasing model, convene a public open house, and report back to Council. The Huron Perth G2G Trail Working Committee has been assembled including representatives from: landowners adjacent to the rail corridor, Huron and Perth Federations of Agriculture; Huron & Perth County Planning & Development Departments; and Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. (G2G Inc.).
This committee has been working through the list of identified issues raised from public input.
The stewardship model from Region of Waterloo / Kissing Bridge Trail, which is at the easterly end of the former rail bed between Goderich and Guelph, is being reviewed.
Costs and phasing are also part of the discussions. It is anticipated that the committee will convene a public open house in late fall 2015.
In April 2015, G2G Inc., an organization who is initiating the development of the extension of the trail, announced that it has been in discussion with the province’s Land Management Company (Del Mgt. Solutions – DMS) to enter into an interim lease arrangement.
DMS advised that it recently received permission from the Province to prepare a lease arrangement with G2G Inc. for the vacant or unleased portions of the former rail corridor; the lease has not been signed to date.
G2G Inc. has indicated that this lease will be an interim measure, in order to move forward on some trail improvements and to access some available funding for trail work such as bridges, culverts, etc.
The end goal of both the province and the G2G Inc. is to see the counties of Huron and Perth ultimately lease the rail bed.
Therefore, the westerly 82 km (Huron and Perth) would be leased in a fashion similar to the easterly 45 km where the Region of Waterloo (including Wellington County) holds the lease with the Province (since 1997).
The Huron Perth G2G Trail Working Committee plans to continue meeting and working through the list of priorities and policy development to address operational processes and timelines. The County of Huron is still considering leasing the former CP Rail lands from the Province of Ontario to allow its use as a public recreation trail.
The Huron County portion of the former rail corridor extends from the Town of Goderich at the Menesetung Bridge (westerly limit) to the County boundary east of Walton (easterly limit). Portions of the corridor are already in use as trails by the public:
– The Menesetung Bridge – over the Maitland River at Goderich – since August 1, 1995
– GART (Goderich to Auburn Rail Trail) – 13.6 km recreational trail from near Goderich to near Auburn – since October 1, 1995
– The Blyth Greenway Trail – 1.37 km recreational trail – since April 1, 1995
The (G2G) rail trail would run through counties of Huron, Perth, Wellington and Waterloo Region on the former CP rail line. A portion of this trail, from Guelph to east of Millbank, known as “the Kissing Bridge Trail”, is already established and has been in use since 1999.
