Further environmental assessments urged for plan to divert Millbrook well water to Fraserville

MILLBROOK – Presenters at a meeting of people opposed to a proposed water diversion project in Cavan Monaghan Township warned about the possible environmental and financial outcomes of the proposed project.

About 200 people attended Tuesday night’s meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 402 on King St. The presenters encouraged everyone to write to local and provincial politicians with their questions and comments about the project.

The group wants the province to tell the township that it has to conduct further environmental assessments before going through with the plan.

Speaker Jane Zednik said the project proposes running water from Millbrook wells to vacant land in Fraserville that’s slated for development with 684 new homes. It’s a 12-kilometre journey through a series of pipes that could cost between $9.9 million and $11 million, she said.

The project would involve the construction and use of a water treatment plant in addition to the one Millbrook uses and that cost isn’t factored into that number, she said.

The original plan called Fraserville to get water servicing from two wells on Moore Dr. and two wells at the Blue Heron Golf Club.

The township has since determined one of the wells on Moore Dr. can no longer be used because there’s fear it could be contaminated from past use, she said.

So the plan shifted and now the township is looking to take water from three artesian wells in Millbrook.

Zednik questioned the full effect this would have on Baxter’s Creek.

She also questioned if the proposed system would be able to handle the sewage and waste water increase and how it would affect Millbrook’s overall water supply.

“This is our chance, our real chance to stop this project,” Zednik said.

Speaker Scott McFadden said revenue to the township from the development and resulting businesses would pay for the pipeline and treatment plant.

But if no one moves to Fraserville, he said, it’s Millbrook residents who would likely have to pick up the tab, he said.

“Guess what? We’re paying for it,” he said.

McFadden warned there’s little time left to oppose the plan.

The total cost for the project is $30 million, with $10 million each from the federal and provincial governments and the township.

The project has to be completed by March 2011 to get the full infrastructure grants under the economic stimulus program, McFadden said.

NOTE: The group is holding a protest Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The walk begins at the Old Millbrook School and will travel around the town.