Council Highlights - June 17, 2025

Council Highlights - June 17, 2025

This meeting took place the Mount Elgin Community Centre at 6:30 p.m. A summary of the happenings from Council is as follows:

• Asset Management Plan: Council received a report for information and to approve the 2025 Asset Management Plan. The Plan outlines the current state and long-term strategies for managing the Township’s core infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, water systems, and stormwater assets.
• Committee of Adjustment Hearing – Minor Variance Application A07-25: The Committee granted the minor variance application submitted by Steve and Karen Albright for property located at 324071 Mount Elgin Road.
• Prowind Renewables – Update re: proposed Bower Hill Wind Farm Community Engagement: Council received a delegation regarding community engagement activities and early-stage planning for the proposed Bower Hill Wind Farm. The presentation included a general overview of the project’s proposed timeline, regulatory requirements, and anticipated next steps.
• Delegation re: Wind Turbine Proposals in South-West Oxford: Council received a delegation from Marleen van Ham and Bob Orr who delivered a presentation on behalf of concerned residents opposing the proposed wind turbine developments in the Township. In relation to this topic, Council passed the following resolution:

WHEREAS the Township of South-West Oxford is committed to safeguarding the health, safety, environment, agricultural integrity, and overall well-being of its residents; and

WHEREAS industrial wind turbine developments may negatively impact:

● Public health, with reports of sleep disturbances, noise-related stress, and other adverse effects;

● Property values, particularly in proximity to turbine installations;

● Agricultural operations, including interference with crop production, livestock behavior, aerial spraying, and productive land use due to setbacks and access roads;

● Water resources, where construction may pose risks to groundwater, aquifers, and private wells;

● Environmental ecosystems, through disruption of wildlife habitats and migratory paths;                 

AND WHEREAS the procurement of electrical energy is the responsibility of the Province of Ontario;

AND WHEREAS the current Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) procurement process requires a Municipal Support Resolution before an application can proceed, yet provides municipalities with limited information about the full impacts of proposed energy projects at that stage;

AND WHEREAS municipalities are not resourced with the technical expertise or capacity to responsibly assess long-term impacts on agriculture, health, and the environment prior to issuing a Municipal Support Resolution;

AND WHEREAS while the current process mandates an Agricultural Impact Assessment, it is not required until after a contract is issued — leaving municipalities to make premature decisions without adequate information;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Township of South-West Oxford declares itself an “Unwilling Host” for industrial wind turbine projects under the current provincial procurement framework;

AND THAT the Township will not provide Municipal Support Resolutions for any such projects until the procurement process is revised to ensure: 

● Full Agricultural, Health, and Environmental Impact Assessments are completed prior to municipal endorsement;

● Municipalities are provided with adequate data, timelines, and consultation resources to make informed decisions; 

● Local autonomy and planning authority are meaningfully respected in energy project approvals; 

AND THAT this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the local MPP, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO);

AND FURTHER THAT this resolution be made publicly available through the municipal website and local communications channels to ensure transparency and community awareness.

• Staff Reports: Township Communication Tools – App Options and Pilot Project; and Disposal Options for Residentially Kept Chickens.
• By-laws and Agreements: appointment by-law for Township Hall and Park Board (amending By-law for the Brownsville Hall Board)

Recordings of Council Meetings are available on the Township’s YouTube Channel. Please visit our Agendas and Minutes page for more details: https://www.swox.org/township-services/council/agendas-and-minutes/