Nestlé Waters Canada officials received a frosty reception on Dec. 12 when they proposed a community partnership regarding the Middlebrook well west of Elora.
Nestlé Waters’ natural resource manager Andreanne Simard spoke to council about a possible partnership between the company and the municipality.
She provided the company perspective on the well and Nestlé’s conditional offer on the former Middlebrook Bottling Company in March 2015. At that point, the property had been for sale for roughly a decade with no offers, of which she was aware, Simard said.
That same year, Nestlé applied for pumping tests to determine the quality and quantity of available water.
With the proposed provincial moratorium, those tests are unlikely to proceed for at least two years.
Simard stated that earlier this year an anonymous bidder placed an offer to purchase the Middlebrook property.
Nestlé considered the offer “unusual,” Simard said, and it left the company with the choice to either let the property be sold to an unknown party or to exercise its conditional offer to purchase without the well test results.
Simard said Nestlé was unaware at that time the anonymous bidder was in fact Centre Wellington Township.
She added Nestlé officials remain committed to having the well tested and they are disappointed with the province’s two-year moratorium. She said she also believes the pumping tests would be beneficial to the water study being undertaken by the municipality.
“Upon learning that Centre Wellington was interested in the source, we immediately began thinking about partnership opportunities,” she said.
“It’s time to move on, and move forward.”
Simard formally asked permission from council to consult with staff on potential concepts for a non-binding arrangement that could benefit both parties and create an innovative partnership.
“We believe together we can provide an innovative example to the province of how a public/private partnership could work that is fully protective of community needs for safe, reliable drinking water, and of the environment,” she said.
Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton stated the purpose of community delegations is to get input. He also noted there was no information provided to council in advance of the presentation.
“We don’t feel like we have any requirement to make a decision or provide staff with direction (at this time),” said Linton.
Councillor Stephen Kitras asked point-blank if Nestlé is “willing to sell this well to us with no strings attached.”
Simard said, “We are open to all partnership concepts. Right now we are asking for the opportunity to continue the dialogue with Centre Wellington and work towards a Centre Wellington solution.”
She noted, “In the meantime, we will continue to be available to meet with Centre Wellington residents at our weekly office hours.”
She noted those hours “will take a short break over the holidays,” returning to Elora in early January.
“Nestlé Waters will continue to publish advertisements in the Wellington Advertiser and work with Centre Wellington staff and councillors to appropriately notify community members,” said Simard.
Kitras then suggested Nestlé sell the property to the municipality – “then we can negotiate after.” He remained concerned the township would consider “strapping ourselves in negotiations.”
Linton interrupted to clarify that any discussions regarding property purchases would need to be held in closed session.
Councillor Mary Lloyd said the delegation provided food for thought, but there is no guarantee testing will prove the well is suitable – regardless of who owns it.
Linton added council will continue to work in the best interests of Centre Wellington residents.
He said there will likely be further discussions between Nestlé and the community – “and we have a couple of years to do things right."
