The township is not planning any further action after investigating a resident’s concerns about the transportation route used by NextEra Energy Canada to bring turbine components to the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre.
Mapleton resident Dunc Lamond came to council on March 8 to ask who is responsible for any future repairs to a tile drain that crosses Sideroad 17 near his farm.
Lamond told council the transportation route outlined in the agreement between the township and NextEra Energy Canada indicates turbines would be brought to the site via a series of back roads off Highway 6.
However, he said he and other area residents saw blades and turbine components transported straight to the site along Sideroad 17 from Wellington Road 109 when the facility was built in the summer of 2012.
At the June 8 meeting, CAO Brad McRoberts reported staff were unable to confirm or refute Lamond’s assertions.
“Right now as far as we’re concerned they used their approved haul route. We have nothing in our files to suggest they deviated,” said McRoberts.
“I’m not trying to suggest the delegation was lying, but I just don’t have anything to support what he’s saying.”
McRoberts said township staff reviewed the project files and could not find any indication that a deviation of the approved transportation haul routes was either requested or approved.
Staff also requested in writing that NextEra confirm they did not deviate from their approved haul route or if appropriate approvals were provided from the township if they did.
The company responded their records do not indicate they deviated from the approved routes, and therefore did not require any associated approvals.
County of Wellington officials confirmed no requests were received by the county.
“Township staff are not recommending any further action unless council is prepared to take a legal action and incur legal fees,” McRoberts notes in the report.
“The township could also be at risk of incurring legal fees for all parties in any legal action.”
Council received the report, but also directed public works director Jamie Morgan to look into how costs were allocated for previous repairs to the drain on Sideroad 17 around the time of the construction project.
“We can do some research into when that was fixed and who fixed it,” said Morgan.
