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Bala's mayor wants advice, not investment on power project continued from p.1 survive the blow to local tourism and the potential long-term disruption of traffic along the main road through Bala to accommodate the construction of the hydroelectric station. "This is a community that has probably 350400 permanent residents, but the population of the area probably grows to 4,000-5,000 during the summer," said Currie. "There is nobody here during the wintertime... If those people are scared away or can't travel through the village without a huge inconvenience they are not going to shop locally. If those businesses can't make their income in the summertime, they are not even going to be around in the winter." Karen McGee of Swift River Energy Ltd., said the project is moving forward with construction on the station expected to begin next summer and last 16-18 months before completion. McGee also pointed out while some take issue with the project, it does have many supporters. A Swift River website on the project -- www. balafalls.ca -- states having a hydroelectric station at the proposed site will be nothing new as one was built there in 1924, but later demolished in 1972. The website states there would be a low ecological impact due to existing dams in the area, the project would improve water level and flood control and ultimately feature a new pub- 7 | Friday, December 13, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com This, in a way, is disgusting. A lot of people in Oakville worked very hard in the trenches to facilitate a situation where the gas plant got cancelled. Now, the Town of Oakville is coming in as a potential investor in a project that is at least as damaging to the town of Bala as the gas plant would have been to the town of Oakville. Sandy Currie, resident of Bala, formerly of Oakville lic rooftop lookout of the falls and river. Muskoka Lakes Mayor Alice Murphy said the proposed station will be 14 times larger than the one built in 1924 and noted she has safety concerns. Murphy pointed out that she, the majority of Muskoka Lakes residents and the overwhelming majority of Bala residents, do not support the project. She referenced a radio show she participated in with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, which seem to indicate the hydroelectric project is not a done deal. Currie said he was deeply disturbed to learn Oakville Hydro was examining the possibility of investing in the Bala Falls project, particularly after the ordeal Oakville residents went through in forcing a proposed 900-megawatt gas fired power plant out of their community. "This, in a way, is disgusting. A lot of people in Oakville worked very hard in the trenches to facilitate a situation where the gas plant got cancelled," said Currie. "Now, the Town of Oakville is coming in as a potential investor in a project that is at least as damaging to the Town of Bala as the gas plant would have been to the town of Oakville." Burton said Murphy contacted him for advice on how to combat the hydroelectric project because of the Town's experience in stopping the power plant. He argued the Bala Falls project has progressed to the point where outright stopping it is impossible and advised Murphy to negotiate with Swift River Energy Ltd., to get some of the changes to the project the community wants. "She doesn't appear to have liked that advice. She met with me several times to see if I had further ideas and I offered to come in and buy it and move it (to an alternate location at Bala Falls), but she didn't want to do that either," said Burton. "So she's hard to help." Murphy does not see it that way. "The alternative site presented by the proponent on municipally-owned land, referred to as Option 2, did have the benefit of moving the project further away from the falls, but generated renewed municipal angst with the increased scope of the project, the tunnelling across the single municipally connecting roadway, as well as the core unresolved concerns related to safety, recreation, scenic vistas, water levels and tourism," she said in an email. "This dialogue (with Burton) was of a conceptual nature only, with no presentations made to Muskoka Lakes, nor any clarity provided by Oakville as to how the concerns expressed by the community would be addressed and resolved." Burton said he sees nothing wrong with the project and said, given the right circumstances, it would be a good investment for the Town of Oakville. "We are engaged in some hydroelectric projects in communities where there is no controversy. We are actively pursuing some solar and hydroelectric projects. 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