Volunteers Needed for Hydro One Committee

At the AMM last month, the Hydro One expansion project was briefly discussed, as this priority project will be created from Sudbury to Barrie with key decisions in the coming months. Hydro One is adding two more 500 KV (high voltage) lines in a study area that includes Gloucester Pool. The new lines must have significant clearances from existing lines. If the corridor by Gloucester Pool is selected, the hydro corridor would likely be doubled in width. It is unknown if the expansion would be east or west of the current lines.

A number of GPCA Board members have attended open houses held by Hydro One and/or attended virtual meetings to obtain more information, and Hydro One will be providing preferred routes later this year or early next year. Depending on where the line is placed, it could directly impact everyone who uses the Tower Line Road on the east side of Gloucester Pool to get to their property due to the massive clearing of land and construction of towers, as well as those on Six Mile and connecting waterways.

There are a significant number of people who could might have their property expropriated or have permanent easements placed on their property if that corridor is selected. Any property that is 150m from the existing Hydro Lines will likely be affected by those changes. We have estimated up to 300 households could be impacted in total should the corridor use Tower Line as the access point to expand the lines from there.

GPCA has created a committee and need volunteers of concerned residents and cottagers who will work to further understand the issues and advocate for the affected group in the coming months and potentially longer. We believe we will need to reach out to non-members in order to have a strong enough voice to impact the Hydro One decision on the route for this corridor and we feel there is a need to reach out to road associations along Tower Line to provide coordinated information and input.

We welcome anyone who would like to be more involved, either on the committee, or by contributing in a specific role based on your knowledge, experience, or expertise, whether it be environmental, property, understanding of electrical emissions, legal, and governance overall. Your involvement will help ensure that the GPCA is well informed, well prepared, and able to effectively represent the interests of the community.

Hydro One information on the project is available here: https://www.hydroone.com/about/corporate-information/major-projects/sudbury-barrie-transmission-line

The study area map is located at this link which we would urge you to use to add any comments based on your local knowledge of impacts (environmental, socio-cultural, physical, etc)

Please email GPCA at Mail.gpca@gmail.com if you are interested in participating and the role you feel best suited. Please provide your email should you wish to be added to regular updates as we tackle this issue.