WELLINGTON NORTH – A motion brought before Wellington North council to issue a “letter of objection” to the proposed location of an Xplornet telecommunications tower was carried without opposition on Oct. 12.
Speaking to councillors and township staff during a Tuesday afternoon council meeting, councillor Steve McCabe said the tower’s proposed location “may impact the operations of York Soaring Club.”
The York Soaring Association, an active glider club located east of Arthur, has previously voiced safety concerns with the proposed tower location in proximity to their aerodrome.
McCabe wanted council’s support for his motion to object with the intent for Xplornet to find a “more suitable location” further away from the club.
“I think sending a letter of objection and asking them to find a more suitable location is in the best interest of the York Soaring Club and our safety of our residents as well,” McCabe said.
Councillor Dan Yake asked McCabe how much conversation he’s had with the soaring club.
“I haven’t had any to be honest with you,” McCabe replied. “I’ve talked to more of the neighbours around the soaring club.”
McCabe said he also heard the club had previously spoken to the Advertiser and he “heard the York Soaring Club president is not in favour of the proposed self-standing tower there.”
The Advertiser had previously reached out to McCabe and quoted him in an Oct. 1 story about the club’s concerns with the tower.
Councillor Sherry Burke said she supports finding a farther away from the club and she had also read the club had spoken with the Advertiser for a story.
“It doesn’t really seem to fit the location with regards to the proximity to the York Soaring Club,” she said.
Burke emphasized the tower is still needed to provide rural internet service and requested an objection letter focus on the tower’s proximity to the aerodrome.
The tower is still wanted—just farther away. Other councillors and Mayor Andy Lennox all agreed.
Lennox said he had been contacted by the club and said he is “sympathetic to their concern,” particularly with gliders.
“Since they don’t have an engine to take off if the air currents are not appropriate for landing in exactly the right place so perhaps the tower being located a little further away might make it a lot safer for them,” he said, also emphasizing a need for rural internet connectivity.
Speaking with the Advertiser in a later phone call, McCabe said it was nice to have council vote unanimously to back his motion.
“It’s just in their airspace and it’s just not good planning,” he said of the tower.
“So, I get that we need towers and the more reliable internet we have in rural areas, the better.”
McCabe, who noted he’s an Xplornet customer, added, “I really do understand that, and there’s a huge need for it.”
But he said even one accident would be too much and the tower could be placed on the same farm, just farther away.
“If I didn’t do something and put this motion through for the township to object where the location is and something happened, that would keep me up at night for a long time,” McCabe said.
“It’s the most that we can do and you gotta try.”
Perth-Wellington MP John Nater has also gotten involved, making a visit to the soaring club last week.
“If there’s ever a need for an emergency landing or anything went wrong, the location right there, it reduces the options and presents a serious safety risk,” Nater told the Advertiser.
He later addressed letters to Innovation, Science and Industry minister François-Philippe Champagne, whose department – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – ultimately issues a licence to operate telecommunications towers, and Xplornet, highlighting the club’s safety concerns and requesting responses from both.
“Just flagging that issue will hopefully be enough to provide pause both for Xplornet and for ISED to kind of take a second look at it and make sure that their final decision isn’t one that puts people’s safety at risk,” Nater said.
He added he would be paying attention to the issue and following up in coming weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveils a new cabinet on Oct. 26, which could result in a new minister taking over the Innovation, Science and Industry portfolio.
Wellington North staff issued their objection letter on Oct. 14.
Planner Maria Wood of Canacre, a development consultant acting on behalf of Xplornet, confirmed by phone on Oct. 18 the letter was received on Oct. 15.
“The letter of objection that we received says ‘we object,’ it doesn’t really say why,” Wood said, noting she was surprised the letter didn’t specify reasoning.
“Generally, the next step would just be to contact the township and discuss to really understand what their objection is … obviously, it’s most likely the proximity to the [aerodrome],” Wood said.
York Soaring Association president Dave Bax said the civic process seems to be working.
“I mean, council is taking their responsibility seriously,” he remarked. “I’m happy, couldn’t expect any more and hope for nothing less.”
Glider pilot and York Soaring board member Tim Wood, who originally reached out to the Advertiser to bring attention to the club’s safety concerns, said “the process has been satisfactory, but it’s not over yet.”
He mentioned they’ve had difficulty getting a response from Canacre.
“If from this point forward, we get improved communication, I’m sure it’s something that could be worked out,” Wood said, adding he’s confident another location could easily be found.
“I think this whole thing could have been, with proper communication, headed off right at the beginning.”
