Residents rally to fight intrusive power line

Close to 200 people showed up for a community meeting in Cole Harbour last week to discuss the Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage Transmission Line Project.

The meeting was held last Thursday evening at the Hillside Weslyan Church on Ritcey Crescent, an area that could be directly affected if the power transmission line goes through their community.

"It was awesome. We were shocked at the turnout," said Ritcey Crescent resident Val Conrad. "The church was almost full."

Conrad said residents are currently focusing on writing letters and doing research, as they want to be prepared for a hearing in front of the Utility and Review Board, when the time comes.

"We want to have a good file of information, so they can't just rubber stamp this and walk away."

She said overall, residents have been working together on the issue.

"As a group, we've been working very well. We'll keep plugging away. We've got too much at stake in this," said Conrad.

Nova Scotia Power's $20-million power transmission line will run from Westphal to Eastern Passage.

The exact route of the line has not yet been established, but one potential route option for the 11-kilometre, 138-kilovolt line shows a path through the Cole Harbour Heritage Park and along a section of the trail, as well as affecting private property along Ritcey Crescent.

"You can pick where you go for a walk, we live here 24/7," said Conrad, who owns 48 acres of land in the area. "You can make a choice to be under them in the parks, we don't have a choice here."

Land preparation for the transmission line is tentatively planned for spring 2011. The project also involves construction of a new substation in the Shearwater area, due to be completed in late 2012.

Cole Harbour and Eastern Passage have seen considerable growth in recent years, and Nova Scotia Power says the existing electricity supply for the area is reaching capacity. A new line is needed to ensure adequate electricity supply, and improve reliability for the area, the company says.

Concerned residents have started a Facebook group (Cole Harbour Transmission Lines) to act as a backdrop to inform people of new information and planned events surrounding the issue.

So far the Facebook group has 95 members.

According to Nova Scotia Power, a date for a second public meeting regarding the Cole Harbour and Eastern Passage Transmission Line Project line has yet to be set, but a meeting will be held at some point this summer, likely in Eastern Passage.

lmckay@hfxnews.ca