{"id":7153,"date":"2015-12-30T15:36:49","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T20:36:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethebalafalls.com\/?p=7153"},"modified":"2015-12-30T18:08:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-30T23:08:00","slug":"attempting-to-avoid-responsibility-for-the-automated-drowning-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethebalafalls.com\/?p=7153","title":{"rendered":"Attempting to avoid responsibility for the automated drowning machine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Ministry of Natural Resources states …<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
That Transport Canada has provided approval.<\/td>\n\u00a0
This is irrelevant, as this approval:<\/p>\n
    \n
  • Did not consider the downstream flows, as the Moon River is excluded from Transport Canada’s consideration under the Navigation Protection Act<\/em>.<\/li>\n
  • Did not consider swimming, wading, or scuba diving, as this is not Transport Canada’s expertise or mandate (in fact, the proponent has not provided any<\/strong> assessment of in-water safety even though they have committed they would “not generally diminish the public\u2019s enjoyment of the area for swimming, boating \u2026”<\/em><\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The above are more dangerous than the current situation as the treacherously turbulent flows would be hundreds of feet closer to the in-water recreational areas than the natural flows through the south channel. And the flows would be remotely- and automatically-started, silently and without warning.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

It would be the proponent’s responsibility to operate their proposed generating station safely.<\/td>\n\n

\u00a0
The public must be informed how the proponent would accomplish this impossible task, as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • It would be unprecedented<\/strong> to locate a hydro-electric generating station in the middle of an extremely popular in-water recreational area.<\/li>\n
  • The dangerous tailrace flow from the Wilson’s Falls generating station, which was less than one-tenth<\/strong> that from the proposed Bala station, caused the drowning of a 16-year-old boy a few years ago. This is a real and, tragically, proven life-threatening danger.<\/li>\n
  • It has been recommended by the Lifesaving Society of Canada<\/em> that the proponent present their plans to the public before any further approvals are provided, to ensure these could actually be implemented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wading below the Bala north dam could continue as it is higher in elevation than the Moon River.<\/td>\n\u00a0
This is as ridiculous as telling your child to play on the shoulder of a highway\u00a0\u2013 sure it is “safe” there, but deadly just a few feet away.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because the Bracebridge Falls generating station is upstream of the municipal docks and swimming area there, the proposed Bala station could also be operated safely.<\/td>\n\u00a0
This is false, as the situation is entirely different, for example:<\/p>\n