About $7,000 was raised at a Saturday night fundraiser to stop a planned piping of Millbrook’s water to Fraserville.

“There was a great deal of support, enthusiasm and optimism,” said Grace Glass, a concerned citizen and one of the night’s organizers.

Close to 200 people attended the event at the Millbrook Legion, she said. The $7,000 was raised through a silent auction. It will help pay debts private citizens have incurred to help fight the water diversion project, such as putting information pamphlets about the project in every resident’s mailbox, Glass said.

It will also help “to continue this fight to do whatever we have to do to stop them from taking the water from the aquifer,” she said.

There is a proposal to run a 12- kilometre pipeline from Millbrook’s aquifer to Fraserville, for a planned development that could boast nearly 700 new homes, businesses and attractions.

Two studies have found the water should come from Millbrook’s aquifer. Bringing water and sewer service to the area will cost an estimated $30 million, with $9.8 million coming from the federal government, $9.8 million from the province and the remainder from the municipality.

Glass said there’s support, not just in Millbrook, but from all over Cavan Monaghan Township, against the plan to take from Millbrook’s aquifer “in order to make a city that doesn’t even exist.”

Doug Hunter, another concerned citizen, also said the fundraiser was a good night to get people talking about the issue and to raise awareness. More studies need to be done, he said. “There’s not enough data to move forward with this thing the way it’s proposed.”

Glass said she was very pleased with the turnout.

“In this little town you always expect the best and we got it.”

Glass said the next step is to organize a meeting once council sends their final report to the Ministry of Environment, at which time the public is given 30 days to respond.

She said residents will be encouraged to send letters to the ministry.

Glass said Millbrook Coun. Fern Armstrong was at the fundraiser.