2 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, December 28, 1988 Right to farm is now legal Farmers will now be protected under the Farm Practices Protec- tion Act from nuisance lawsuits over noise, odor or dust caused by normal farm practices. The act received royal assent on Dec. 15, 1988. "I cannot stress enough how important the act is," declared Jack Riddell, Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food. "It is a balanced law that establishes the freedom our farmers need to carry on a basic and essential work -- food production. This traditional right to carry on pro- per and accepted farm practices is being challenged increasingly by rural residents who complain about neighboring farming operations." The Farm Practices Protection Board, to be established under the act, will hear complaints by in- dividuals about odor, noise qg dust from farm practices. 4 If nuisance is shown to result from a normal farming practice, the board will dismiss the com- plaint. If the board finds that the Water rates (From page 1) water and sewer rates, effective January 1. : Over the next deace, the report states that the Region will be faced with paying $132 million for water systems; $159 for sewer works; $183 million for roads and $9.4 million to assist homeown- ers whose wells go bad because of new development. Of that total, $84 million will have to come from debentures. The $485 million capital fore- cast is considerably higher than what Durham officials were pre- dicting just a year ago. At that time, the ten year fore- cast was a paltry (by comparison) $249 million. This report which councillors received at their last meeting be- fore Christmas, will be followed by a more detailed examination of the issues and ramifications in two months. practice is not proper, it may issue an order requiring a farmer to cease or modify the practice. While this new act affords farmers some measures of pro- tection from potential conflicts, Riddell emphasized that "the long-term solution is agricultural land use planning policies to avoid new incompatible uses in agricultural areas." "It is important to note that the right to farm is not a right to pollute," specified Riddell. "An underlying principle to this act is the requirement that farm prac- tices continue to comply with other provincial legislation, specifically the Environmental Protection Act, the Pesticides Act, The Public Health Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act." : Protocols have been developed with the Ministry of the Environ- ment so that complaints unresolv- ed by staff upon initial investiga- tion may be referred by the com- plainant to the Farm Practices Protection Board. The board would then hold a hearing to determine whether the challeng- ed farm practice is normal. The act was introduced follow- ing a recommendation made by the Ontario Right To Farm Ad- visory Committee appointed by the minister in Feb. 1986, with the mandate to determine ap- propriate policy options to ensure farmers have adequate = otection from complaints against normal farming practices. The committee held public hearings across the province gathering some 280 presentations or briefs from farm and non-farm organizations, municipalities and individuals, Police (From page 1) dozen such accidents, and one Re- gional Police cruiser was involved in two separate collisions with deer jumping onto the roadway. Incidents have been reported in the rural areas of Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge Townships, espe- cially early in the morning. PORT PERRY PLAZA 985-8054 We have the Solution For your New Year's Resolution! STARTING JANUARY 3rd, 1989 - NEW HOURS Monday to Friday 8 to 8 PM; Saturday & Sunday 12 to 8 PM THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM CLOSURE OF NEWCASTLE TRANSFER STATION The Newcastle Transfer Station (formerly the Darlington Landfill Site) located north of Regional Road No. 20, will be closed permanently on December 31, 1988. Household refuse for disposal can be taken to the Cartwright Transfer Station. The hours of operation for this Transfer Station are: MONDAY -- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM TUESDAY -- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (May 1 - Oct. 31, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM) WEDNESDAY -- CLOSED THURSDAY -- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM FRIDAY -- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM SATURDAY -- 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM The Cartwright Transfer Station is located on the south side of Cartwright Conces- sion Road No. 4, east of Regional Road No. 57. W.A. TWELVETREES, P.ENG., COMMISSIONER OF WORKS WING CHAIRS IN VARIOUS STYLES, COLOURS AND FABRICS. | | AVAILABLE. {VALUES TO TRUE VALUE $3,609 *" BEDROOM SOPHISTICATED ELEGANCE IN HAND RUBBED CHERRY AND MAPLE WITH HESPELER'S EXCELLENT CRAFTSMANSHIP. SUITE INCLUDES TRIPLE DRESSER, WING MIRROR, DOOR CHEST, AND QUEEN POSTER HEADBOARD. FOOTBOARD & NIGHT TABLES SAVE |ses0 FROM $349 ! THE ULTIMATE IN FINE DINING. QUEEN ANNE TABLE, 4 SIDE CHAIRS LARGE BUFFET AND HUTCH. EXTRA ARM CHAIRS AVAILABLE. '3,400 $3,499 TRUE VALUE 6,899 ORL Sb © CL TRUE VALUE $1,999 20 CENTRE ST. N. DOWNTOWN OSHAWA, 723-2288 © WILSON FURNITURE LR $980 DURABLE FABRIC, QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, WOOD TRIM, | INCLINER AND DELUXE DOUBLE SIZE SPRING FILLED MATTRESS MAKES THIS SECTIONAL. A GREAT VALUE. SAVE $800 BIE a WR HN VES SORE 2 IR ------ TRE Vi ------ rc) across the street 52,749 $1,499 Mon.-Wed. 9-6 Thurs.-Fri. 9-9 Saturday 9:30-8:30 We validate parking in Centre Bt Garage A A, a i a ys