Peaks and valleys of Dufferins rail corridor

County may consider multi-use recreational trails

By Chris Halliday Sep 05, 2012 - 4:35 PM

The issue of what to do with its abandoned rail corridor is a perplexing, yet complicated, question to answer for Dufferin County. In the last few years, the county has considered selling its rail corridor stretching from the outer edge of Orangeville to Grey County as well as striking a potential hydro easement agreement with a wind farm developer. More recently, Dufferins public works committee is asking county council to have staff investigate opening the abandoned rail corridor up to multiple recreational uses. County council will consider that recommendation next Thursday (Sept. 13). Weve been more wrapped up in the possible rail issue, and hydro corridor, said Mono Deputy Mayor Ken McGhee, chair of the public works committee. Take a look at it for the publics use. We havent. The abandoned rail corridor has been a red herring of sorts for Dufferin County. Negotiations to sell the rail corridor to a subsidiary corporation of The Highland Companies, which has applied to the province for a 2,316 license to mine limestone in Melancthon, fell flat in April of 2011. In that move, county council decided against continuing discussions about selling its former rail line lands to The Highland Railway Group, but didnt declare it would cease negotiations either. Its always possible the issue could rear its controversial head again. (Council) hadnt made an official decision, said Dufferin CAO Sonya Pritchard. There isnt anything more to know than that. They just didnt talk about it any further. Before discussions died down, Highland officials acknowledged the companys desire to re-establish a rail line between Orangeville and Owen Sound those plans, however, arent part of its current quarry project. Whether a future sale is in the cards or not, Pritchard said its important the county consider all options. She noted the rail corridors potential for recreational use has always been on Dufferins radar. It has no approved different use than being a vacant rail corridor right now, so examining different options is always a good idea, Pritchard said. Any time you

have a continuous corridor of land, its certainly valuable for all kinds of different uses." Orangeville has a pending $7 million deal to sell its rail line to The Highland Railway Group $2 million of which will come only once the first mile of track has been laid to the north of Orangeville, on lands currently owned by Dufferin County. Acknowledging many issues relating to the proposed Melancthon quarry need addressing, Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams places selling the rail corridor atop his totem pole of priorities. He argues it would go a long way toward reducing truck traffic on county roads if Highlands proposal, which will be subject to an environmental assessment (EA), is approved. The best alternative for the community, if that goes ahead, would be to have the rail corridor used. ... The truck traffic on the roads would be horrendous, Adams said. If that wasnt to happen, Id agree (recreational use) would be my second alternative. McGhee suggests Dufferin look to nearby communities as models. Former rail lands in other areas are being used for hiking, biking and even horseback riding. We could sure make better use of it, McGhee said. The county has also considered a potential easement agreement with Dufferin Wind Power Inc. Owned by a North American subsidiary of China Longyuan Power Group Corporation Limited and Farm Owned Power (Melancthon) Ltd., the company has asked to run a single pole hydro line along the countys rail corridor from its proposed 100 MW wind farm in Melancthon to the Orangeville transformer station in Amaranth. Talks between the two parties tapered off in June. At that time, county council declared it would halt any discussions until the wind farm developer pays for any legal fees already incurred, and writes a cheque for any estimated costs Dufferin may sustain in the future. Dufferin Wind Power Inc. officials have said the company is willing to pay the countys legal costs to draft an easement contract, whether an agreement is ultimately reached or not. So far, the county has spent about $40,000 in legal fees. As of Wednesday morning (Sept. 5), Pritchard reported the county hadnt received a dime, but expects it will shortly.