Ostrander Point photos upsets neighbours

By Nicole Kleinsteuber

Aerial view photo illustrating paths of vegetation being cleared by a bush hog looking for UXO's at Ostrander Point. Photo courtesy of Treat Hull.

Emotions escalated in Prince Edward County over Labour Day weekend as work crews were spotted at Ostrander Point, a proposed wind energy project site.

Prince Edward County residents contacted local MPP Green Party candidate Treat Hull to report that work teams had begun clearing site to make way for nine wind turbines.

“Feelings are running high about this and justifiably so,” said Hull.

Hull’s campaign team chartered a helicopter and hired a photographer to take aerial view pictures of the site, showing X-Tech Explosive Decontamination Inc. clearing vegetation and small shrubs throughout the south east portion of the site on Tuesday.

The decontamination company was contracted by the DND to remove any remaining unexploded explosive ordinance (UXO) from the area, which was used as a military training ground during WWII.

Hull said the contractors are connected to Gilead Power and began clearing the site for the proposed wind farm despite the fact the project has not received its final approvals required to proceed.

“People feel strongly about this,” said Orville Walsh, chair for the County Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy.  “Both the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources have ignored process by not carrying out its mandate to see that the area not be destroyed unnecessarily.”

Walsh said wind project challengers were assured by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of the Environment there would be no activity at Ostrander Point until the access road application and the renewable energy application had been approved.  There have been no such approvals yet.

“This reflects badly on the DND, Gilead Power and everyone involved,” said Hull.

In an attempt to clarify whether or not Gilead contracted DND to do the work to the site, Mike Lord vice president of project development at Gilead issued a statement on Wednesday via email.

“Gilead remains committed to not undertake any construction at the Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park prior to receiving approval from the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” said Lord in the email.

After seeing the photos of crews clearing portions of the site, Myrna Wood, a founding member of Prince Edward County Field Naturalists said she felt betrayed.

“The government claimed there was a process for the community to have input,” said Wood.

“As soon as I found out I contacted our MPP along with other concerned residents to have the work stopped until the process has been completed,” said Walsh.

To date, Walsh hasn’t received a response to his request.

The majority of the concern originates from Ostrander Point being designated an Important Bird Area, and home to endangered species like the Whip-Poor-Will and the Blanding’s turtle.

The Whip-Poor-Wills are a member of the so-called “nightjar” or “goatsucker” family of birds whose scientific name is Caprimulgiformes.  It prefers a semi-open forest with exposed rock outcrops, grasslands, pastures, and habitats with exposed mineral soils ranging from south-central Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south of the boreal forest. The North American Breeding Bird Survey states the population of this species declined by 75 percent between 1968 and 2007 in Canada.

The Blanding’s Turtle is part of the Emydidae family and they favour shallow water, rich in nutrients and dense with vegetation.  The Blanding’s Turtle makes its home in southwestern Québec, southern Ontario and central-southwest Nova Scotia.

Nature Canada estimates there are 10,000 Blanding’s Turtles along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence.

Wood said she is concerned about the Blanding’s turtle and their hatchlings because they travel at this time of year.

“Is the equipment going over them as we speak?” said Wood.

Walsh and Wood aren’t the only residents the concerned about the impact the clearing could have on the environment and wildlife.

“There are a lot of vehicle traffic stirring things up,” said Richard Copple, who lives within walking distance from Ostrander Point.  “This is a valuable habitat and I’m shocked at how a conservation area isn’t being preserved.”

Richard Copple is the founder of Point to Point PEC, a group dedicated to preserving the natural habitat along the south shore in Prince Edward County.

When Copple noticed machinery operating on the point he contacted Barbara Proctor, town councillor for South Marysburgh.

“It was clear after I visited the site that Gilead Power is not trying to put their shovel in the ground prior to approval,” said Proctor.

Proctor said the timing of the activities made people suspect due to Gilead’s pending application.

Copple said one reason he was suspicious is because the clearing project was kept quiet with no notice to county residents.

Proctor said the Ministry of Natural Resources on behalf of DND contacted local fire, police and medical departments to make them aware of the activities taking place.

“This is about safety and it would have to be done regardless,” said Proctor.  “Whether it becomes a national park or if Gilead begins construction.”

Milford resident and founder of the County Sustainability Group, Don Ross hadn’t seen the aerial photos of the site but he said he’s thrilled the group is cleaning up the point.

“There are a lot of dangers out there involving explosives,” said Ross.  “I’m sure they’re respecting the environment to the best of their ability.”

South Marysburgh resident John Rorabeck lives five minutes away from Ostrander Point.  Rorabeck said he has absolute faith in Gilead and hopes their project is accepted.

“I would like a turbine on my property,” said Rorabeck.  “If I thought they were harmful then I wouldn’t want one.”

“Gilead has been working on this project since 2006 and we would never develop a project in good conscious where we thought there would be environmental impacts,” said Lord in an interview.