25
Aug
2011
2011
Bala Falls Power Struggle
This is a shot from the south side of the Bala Falls on Lake Muskoka. There is a lot of controversy with regards to turning the falls into a new hydro electric dam site. Swift River Energy, a power company has been fighting to develop this site and many of the long term cottagers and locals are not too happy about it. Its been a war.
In: historic muskoka, in and around muskoka ontario, tripin around towns
Beautiful photo, Ed.
Ed
If you’d really like to learn more about the fight about the proposed hydro plant redevelopment at the north Bala Falls dam site, come to council Monday afternoon.
PA
I cannot believe that, somehow, this horrible hydro project cannot be stopped. Why ruin the beautiful Bala Falls and, in so doing. the whole town of Bala? As long time cottagers in the area, we love to visit and shop in Bala and enjoy the fact that it is the only town left in Muskoka that has not been “messed with” by development.
As far as “green energy” goes, what is so green about this project? There are two generating stations further down the Moon River that were operational not so many years ago: we went on a tour of Ragged Rapids OPG once. Why not refurbish those since they are already there? With as much criticism as OPG gets, at least it is in the public domain, whereas Swift River is a private, for profit company designed to make lots of money for its owners.
Another idea might be to just leave Nanticoke running, although the Province is busy getting rid of it which looks good politically as it was a major polluter. However, we live near it, know lots of people working there and understand the province spent millions on scrubbers years ago to reduce pollution which are mothballed, never having been installed. The environment there was destroyed in the early ’70′s when beaches and farms gave way to that generating station. So it is already ruined, why ruin another place?
Anyway, this whole Swift River thing makes me sick and it is not right that the District of Muskoka and the people in the area cannot seem to stop them.
Thank you for the absolutely beautiful picture you’ve shared with us. Soon that may be all we have, is pictures of Bala Falls and the town as we know it.
Thanks,
Marion Vermeersch,
This picture brings back many memories of swimming in the falls when I was a teenager. It is a beautiful part of nature and should be left alone