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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 29, 2002 - A3 Town approves development near pipelines Residents angered by council's refusal to spend $19,000 on risk assessment study By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF T«?9 ^ y 1 800 2 6 5 -8863 Two dozen members of the Upper Joshua Creek Residents' Association left the Town of Oakville's Planning and Development council Monday angry that council refused to dish out what they considered peanuts to allay neigh bourhood safety concerns. After three years of debate, residents want ed a $19,000 risk assessment study done to pin down the potential for catastrophe regarding a Fembrook Homes plan to build 43 townhouses behind their homes on land that sits between four pipelines -- two high-pressure natural gas (running at 40 percent capacity), and two, oil. The area is behind Grace Drive and Iroquois Ridge High School, in the area of Parkmount Drive in north Iroquois Ridge. After several hours of public input Monday, councillors didn't go for the study. Ward 6 councillors Kurt Franklin and Janice Wright -- who took heat from the residents who live in their ward -- instead called for Fembrook to provide round-the-clock security, increased signage and a Cadillac version of fencing on the pipelines during excavation and construction. The residents, who accept the fact that they live near a pipeline, were adamant that they don't oppose the townhouses, but want assur ances the construction w ouldn't increase the risk for a disaster in the new neighbourhood that's full of young families. `T h e safety issue is the number one issue. For $19,000, it's (the study) cheap insurance," said residents' association spokesperson Bram Maharaj. While Fembrook lawyer, Blair Taylor, said his client was willing to pay for security during excavation, he said Fembrook wouldn't pay for the study. Town staff was prepared to recommend the study, but changed their tune when the City of Burlington advised that similar studies had proved inconclusive. The Town did circulate Fembrook's plan to agencies, including the National Energy Board (NEB); Union Gas; Enbridge; the Halton pub lic and Catholic school boards; the Oakville Fire Department; and Halton Region. None had concerns. The pipeline companies set out require ments regarding construction near the pipelines. Taylor noted most major north-south Oakville roads cross the pipelines while a Trafalgar Road co-op housing development Peter McCusker · Oakville Beaver This sign indicates the location of the Union Gas pipeline behind homes on G race Avenue where residents are protesting the construction of townhouses just 7.5 metres from the Union Gas and three other pipelines. and the Rockingham townhouse development haven't been made public from the federal level. are also built between them. Maharaj argued that both developments are "I want them to prove nothing will happen. on areas larger than the Fembrook land, where I have two children and I wouldn't mind if they there's approximately 35 metres between the built the townhouses, if the pipelines weren't pipelines. there," said Suzy Cvitak, of Grace Drive. Maharaj's presentation to council juxta "The pipelines are quite close together. The spacing between them is tighter than anywhere posed photos of neighbourhood children at a community barbecue and clouds in Oakville," said Grace Drive resident Vera Carson. "We live of fire from a pipeline eruption "I want them to prove on April 15, 2002 in Manitoba. with our children feet away from nothing will happen. I the pipeline. It's very, very Maharaj's was armed with lit scary," said Carson, admitting have two children and erature documenting incidents in the prospect of digging near the which pipelines were struck by I wouldn't mind if they construction equipment or burst pipelines raised the red flag. built the townhouses, because of stress corrosion crack Only a 10-metre setback is required (for maintenance) by ing. if the pipeline the TransCanada pipeline and "We saw what happened in weren't there." that has been reduced to 7.5 Alberta. Everybody had to be · Grace Drive metres. The other pipelines evacuated. Some were 1 km resident Suzv Cvitak require no setback. away. We're not even 30 feet off While the NEB has estab the pipeline," said Cvitak, noting lished a 30-metre safety zone for the pipelines are also only 4 feet work near pipelines, it doesn't preclude devel under the surface. "We pay taxes, we buy homes here and the opment of land adjacent to the pipeline. Deputy Fire Chief John deHooge told coun City doesn't listen to us," charged Carson. cillors that his department didn't recommend Maharaj said that the area's 150 residents the risk assessment study. pay approximately $750,000 in taxes, and According to deHooge, the biggest risks to called a $19,000 study "peanuts." Oakville residents are the CN marshalling "After three long years, spend the $19,000 yard, local highways and the Petro-Canada so our fears are addressed," pleaded resident refinery, not the pipelines. Scott Wilson. Mayor Ann Mulvale said a pipeline runs Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar voted against through her property, on which she has a veg giving the development the green light saying, etable garden. "We have a responsibility to do the risk assess Residents weren't convinced, though, and ment." noted that on Oct. 30, 2001, a construction However, Wright told residents there are worker (not working for Fembrook) was dig risks attached to getting on an airplane, turning ging near the TransCanada pipeline and came on a gas stove or furnace or getting in a car. to within 20 inches of hitting it. A vigilant res `There will always be some degree of risk," ident called the fire department, which halted agreed Mulvale. the digging, but details about the incident N A PO LEO N h o rs e O C jo W ro rt FIREPLACES · BARBECUES · FURNACES · AIR CONDITIONERS · PATIO FURNITURE · ACCESSORIES BEAT THE Manufacturer's Rebate On Selected Carrier Air Conditioners up 1 a March 2003' Gourmet Grills FANTASTIC SAVINGS! O n Th is Year's ^ Models ' S o m e c o n d itio n s apply. See s to re fo r d e ta ils . O.A.C. Visit Our Website At: www.napoleonhomecomfort.com Oakville Town Centre 300 North Service Rd. 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