All the trees are down but one lone small Maple
I was able to talk the Contractor into saving a maple. the crew removing the rope and walked away. It might not survive the week though....
This Pine is a Grandmother and was my shelter for many days.
The Indigenous Marker tree was the first to go and she had already been through the chipper by the time I got there. SHE IS GONE TOO
I am exhausted, sat under the one lone pine and watched all the authority in the world was there...hands at sides
Nov 25, 2015
Save Bala Falls group taking township to court
Save Bala Falls group taking township to court
BALA - A spokesperson with a group opposed to the Bala Falls hydroelectric project said they are taking the township to court over a proposed lease with the project developer because they feel the municipality has not realized its responsibilities to its ratepayers.
“They have not fulfilled obligations to follow acts, bylaws and their own policies and we are looking to see these obligations are fulfilled before they consider signing this contemplated lease,” said Mitchell Shnier of SaveTheBalaFalls.com
Shnier made the comments one day after the group announced it had filed papers in Bracebridge superior court to prevent the township from entering into a leasing agreement with Swift River Energy Ltd — the proponents of the hydroelectric plant project — for the use of Portage Landing, the south half of the Don's Bakery parking lot, and the north half of the Precambrian Shield parking lot during construction of the hydroelectric power plant, according to the savethebalafalls.com website.
The hearing is scheduled for court on Dec. 14.
In a letter to the township dated Nov. 6 from Patricia L. McLean of the Toronto law firm of Dickinson Wright LLP — the same lawyer who represented Muskoka Lakes Councillor Sandy Currie in his recent conflict of interest case — council was warned not to enter into the lease agreement and indicated if the group did not receive confirmation from the township by Nov. 9 that it would not be going ahead with the lease, the group would "take whatever steps deemed necessary, including the commencement of legal action."
Shnier said the December court date was the earliest hearing the group could manage for the filing to be heard.
The ongoing lease talks between the municipality and Swift River involves a deal that would have the company lease township lands for staging for $125,000.
Should the talks fall through, Swift River would use Margaret Burgess Park, located next to the proposed construction area, as a staging area. The park is included in the land deal the company has with the province.
Swift River has asked council to decide on the lease at its Nov. 13 meeting so the company could proceed with its development plans. However, the lease was not part of the agenda package for the Friday council meeting, although Councillors held a closed meeting after its lunch break, presumably to discuss with township lawyer Harold Elston the pending litigation.
There was no word from the township as of Tuesday at noon about the future of the lease, although one source did tell this newspaper that council, in light of the court action taken by the Bala group, has put the issue on hold for the time being.
When asked what the group would do should the lease be signed prior to the court date — council’s next meeting is Dec. 11 — Shnier said SaveTheBalaFalls.com would address that situation at that time.
“They would continue to think through to the right thing to do,” he said. “There are so many options. I am not worried about running out of choices.”
Shnier said their goal was always to have the project have the least amount of impact possible.
“If they can confine themselves to the land they have rather than getting municipal land, then we are happy. We want to reduce the negative impact to Bala.” (SOLD IT OUT)
November 1 2014 last fall,
Lucy and I woke up to snow on the grounds of Turtle Island in Bala Muskoka
We decided that day to end our overnights in the beautiful tent borrowed from Adrienne Young Starr and we became day campers.
Lucy and I woke up to snow on the grounds of Turtle Island in Bala Muskoka
We decided that day to end our overnights in the beautiful tent borrowed from Adrienne Young Starr and we became day campers.
It was an interesting winter to spend outside protecting paradise but such an incredible life experience.
Allan Turnbull lent me his little camper van and I set upa little office and kept an eye on the Falls.. We keep up the awareness about the Train Bridges needing repair and that is actually under way now. That is great news for Bala people and now we need to get this project cancelled.
We all need to write to the Distrcit of Muskoka to ask all of the Councillors to respect the Resolution about Construction under the Highway #169 Bridge and support the request from Muskoka Lakes to not allow any private use of this deeded Moon River riverbed.
That could be enough to get this project cancelled within weeks and EVERYONE can help me with this.
Thank you everything for hanging in while we get the madness stopped.
Take care
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