From the top of Poley Mountain, the view of the rural community of Waterford shows nothing but forests and farms for kilometres on end. But possible changes to the community’s rural plan without residents’ input could mean a very different view for the community. A total of 128 residents and property owners in the rural community have signed and submitted a statement to New Brunswick’s Minister of Local Government Aaron Kennedy to reject amendments purposed by stakeholders of a 42 wind turbine project until the public is properly consulted about the changes. Waterford resident Mary Ann Coleman, who helped create Waterford’s current rural plan that was finalized in 2022 after years of public input, says it is unfair that the community wasn’t properly kept in the loop about amendments to a plan residents created. “There are things in it that just won’t work in Waterford, and we didn’t have any voice or any say,” Coleman claims. “One of them is to allow windmills basically in our rural use area, which is most of the land based in Waterford. So, windmills would be permitted use anywhere in that’s land based.” The Paqt’smawei Sipu Wind Project (the Project) would include 42 turbines that are being proposed in partnership between Nova Scotia company Natural Forces, Indian Island (L’nui Menikuk) First Nation, and the Mi’gmaq United Investment Network. The first phase of the project would consist of 15 wind turbines that is estimated to supply enough electricity to power 22,000 New Brunswick homes a year. An environment impact assessment has already been approved by the province, meaning preliminary work on construction could begin as early as this fall. They would be built on a mix of crown land and private properties. On top of the changes to the community’s aesthetic and rural lifestyle the initial rural plan created by the community aimed to protect, Coleman says the changes would mean seasonal homes and camps would no longer be considered dwellings. That small change would remove setbacks and other protections currently outlined in the plan. “It’s hard to believe that democracy has got to this point where even though it’s our rural plan developed here, we have absolutely no say,” says a frustrated Coleman. Part of the residents frustration stems from how the purposed amendments came to be as Coleman details. “In March, Natural Forces, a wind turbine company, asked the Regional Service Commission to make an amendment to the plan,” she says. “The Regional Service Commission staff is actually contracted out to Dillon Consulting. Dillon Consulting also has contracts with natural forces, so Dillon Consulting is who wrote this amendment. Dillon Consulting brought the amendment to the Public Review and Adjustment Committee. Dillon Consulting didn’t come to Waterford and talk to any of us. Dillon Consultant didn’t even let us know what was happening.” She, and other residents, are calling on the minister to not approve and amendments until residents and properly consulted. In an email to CTV, Department of Local Government spokesperson Vicky Lutes says no proposed amendment to the Waterford Parish Rural Plan is currently before the minister for consideration and decline to comment further. “The Department of Environment and Local Government recognizes this is an important issue for this community and appreciates their interest in matters that directly affect them,” says Lutes. CTV has reached out to Natural Forces, and the Kings Regional Service Commission but have not heard back. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
