March 6, 2019
Ontario

Melancthon landowner seeks $500,000 in damages from Dufferin Wind over transmission lines

By Alexandra Heck | Orangeville Banner | Mar 04, 2019 | www.orangeville.com

A Melancthon family is taking Dufferin Wind Power Inc. to court over allegations that the hydro transmission lines have affected their quality of life.

The case is set to go before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal in the spring, after expert reports have been filed for both sides.

Frank and Fari Davoodian, of R&P Farms, have filed the suit claiming $500,000 in damages – as they claim that the 230-kilovolt transmission lines have impacted their farming practices and housing value of their 30-acre farm that runs alongside.

When the transmission lines were erected in 2014, the Davoodian’s honey bees were using the wooded area that was cut down to make way for the lines.

“The significant forest cover was an important habitat for bees owned by the claimants which produced honey,” reads the statement of arbitration.

The Orangeville Banner made numerous attempts to contact the Davoodian family, to which they failed to respond; lawyers for Dufferin Wind Power Inc. were able to provide documents pertaining to the case.

The Davoodians said that 15 per cent of their farm profits were from the sales of honey, which have been disrupted by the power lines.

“The respondent undertook the project in a manner that demonstrated no regard for the claimants’ economic well-being,” the statement reads.

The farmers also claim that they were disturbed by excessive noise and dust during the construction of the power lines, and their housing value has been affected by the proximity to the lines.

“Fari Davoodian left the property during construction and has been unable to return to the property owing to the stress and devastating health impacts arising from the construction,” the statement reads.

In their reply, Dufferin Wind Power Inc. denies the allegations.

“Dufferin Wind’s transmission line was constructed in a careful and workmanlike manner that respected and considered neighbouring properties and their owners,” the company states in their reply.

They state that the Davoodians should support their claims of honey production being altered by providing financial statements with honey sales.

Dufferin Wind states that any disruption during construction would have been “no more than a slight annoyance or trivial interference.”

The reply also notes that the property runs alongside a railway line owned by the County of Dufferin, and they should have known that the pathway would be used for some sort of utilities.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/03/06/melancthon-landowner-seeks-500000-in-damages-from-dufferin-wind-over-transmission-lines/