RE: Proposed sale of rail line

I was one of more than 300 individuals who attended a public meeting in Honeywood Ontario on Saturday, January 17, 2009, called by area farmers and ratepayers of the Townships of Melancthon and Mulmur. At that meeting there was discussion regarding the sale of the rail lands throughout Dufferin County. The company wishing to purchase the rail lines, who is in closed door negotiations with the Town of Orangeville and the County of Dufferin, will be operating the line as a private rail line is the same company who has purchased thousands of acres of prime agricultural land in Melancthon.

At this meeting several scenarios were presented on the future use of the agricultural lands in question: continued farming or open pit mining involving stripping the lands to mine dolomite, aggregates and limestone. Many of the actions taken by the company on these lands, including archaeological studies, test drilling, woodlot cutting and contact with various ministries, together with the anticipated purchase of the rail lands, indicates that the lands will not be used for farming, but open pit mining.

After the meeting in Honeywood, a quote in the January 22, 2009 Orangeville Citizen by Michael Daniher, who represents the company/individual in question states: "the group has never attempted to hide the fact that it will continue farming while looking beyond for other opportunities such as wind and bedrock resources". This despite a quote by the owner/individual of the company, John Lowndes in the June 7, 2007 Orangeville Citizen that: "the intent in Melancthon is merely to have a world-class potato operation".

For those of you who remember when the rail lines ran through the County of Dufferin, you will recall it was normally 2 trains a day like clockwork at 7 am and 7 pm with probably less than 20 rail cars. Should an open pit mine of significant magnitude be developed in Melancthon, when it is up to full production, in my opinion based on research in other jurisdictions, you can expect at minimum 2 trains per hour with no less than 40-50 rail cars per train.

It is my understanding that the proponent is trying to sell this as regional economic development and tourism to politicians and businesses. I would suggest that if you think that this private rail line is going to stop to pick up tourists to have them travel between Owen Sound and Toronto and all ports in between, or stop and let companies transport their own goods, you are greatly mistaken.

If the implications of the sale of this valuable asset, owned by all ratepayers in the County of Dufferin, concerns you, contact the Warden and Council at the County of Dufferin in writing to express your concerns or attend at a County Council meeting in person during question period.

All meetings and contact information can be accessed at: www.dufferincounty. on.ca or by calling 519-941-2816.
Karren Wallace
via e-mail

- - o- -

RE: "Melancthon Council faces transparency questions (February 12, 2009)"

On behalf of The Highland Companies, whose local potato farming business operates through brand names like Downey Potato Farms and Wilson Farms, I would like to dispel three myths perpetrated by some members of the community and reproduced by your own newspaper during the past month.

The first myth is that the Company has said that it will only conduct potato farming on its property. True, we have stated our commitment to, and invested millions of dollars in, our potato farms. At the same time, we have said publicly and for many months that we would explore additional uses of our property alongside agriculture.

The second myth is that the Company has not addressed speculation about the future. In fact, we have outlined our plans for some time, on the record, and in a number of different public settings, including this newspaper. Like others in the community have done, we are actively exploring the potential of the natural resources on which the economy of Melancthon Township is based. Others have studied wind power and the bedrock resource that is well-known to exist in the Township and that is already home to a local industry. We are simply doing the same. Once the research is done, we will determine which land use(s) to pursue in addition to farming. Whatever that course may be, it will be subject to a thorough application, review and public consultation process.

The third myth is that our land in Melancthon Township will be used entirely for agriculture or entirely for some other use. There is absolutely no basis for this claim. As noted above, any additional land use(s) will be pursued as well as, and not in place of, our potato farming operation.

If your reporter had put any of these matters to our representative who was also at the Melancthon Council meeting in question, or had contacted us as part of her research, your readers would have had this information before now.
John Lowndes
The Highland
Companies