Cavan Monaghan Township council is taking an extra step to ensure Millbrook water won’t be diverted to Fraserville.

Councillors voted unanimously on Monday to write a letter asking the Ministry of the Environment to stop the environmental assessment (EA) on the controversial plan.

Although an approved EA would not automatically mean the plan would go ahead, it might open the door for future councils to pipe water from the village for planned future development in Fraserville, council heard on Monday from environmental consultant Janet Amos.

At first, Coun. Jim Chaplin said he wanted the EA completed and released to the public because people had a right to know its outcome.

After some discussion, however, Chaplin changed his mind.

“If it means the Millbrook wells are still a possibility for Fraserville then cancel the whole damn thing,” he said to applause from the crowd of about 60 people, some of whom wore bright yellow shirts stating ‘It’s About Water,’ during the special council meeting at the township office.

Council voted for Amos to draft the letter to the MOE, to ensure it’s worded clearly. The letter is to be up for approval at the Sept. 7 meeting.

Amos said she believed the ministry was prepared to approve the plan with several conditions.

But council voted 3-2 on Aug. 3 to nix the plan. Amos said she was addressing council on Monday because, in light of this vote, the MOE needed clarification on whether the township still wanted the EA.

It’s too bad the plan’s opponents won’t get to find out the EA results, to know if the plan was ever viable, Coun. Tim Belch told The Examiner after the meeting.

“It could’ve possibly illuminated if the consultant’s report had holes in it,” Belch said.

Jane Zednik, an outspoken opponent of the plan, said she also had “mixed feelings.”

“People have a right to know what the Ministry of the Environment had to say,” Zednik said after the meeting.

NOTES: Consultant Janet Amos told council that Millbrook’s water could supply future development of the village. None of the currently proposed development projects in the village would need a special permit for Millbrook’s water, she said.

via Township goes against Millbrook water diversion – THE LATEST – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario, CA.