The town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is taking a hard-line approach to the newly-announced hydro agreement with Quebec, saying it won’t support hydro development at Gull Island and expansion at Churchill Falls unless the governments involved provide “clear guarantees” that address the infrastructure, social and environmental impacts the projects will have on the town.
Mayor Bert Pomeroy says as the regional hub and municipality closest to the developments, Happy Valley-Goose Bay will experience their combined impacts directly.
He says the town must be recognized as a major stakeholder in the process, and large-scale projects cannot succeed if Happy Valley-Goose Bay is “left without the resources and capacity needed to support growth, protect residents and plan for the future.”
Mayor Bert Pomeroy of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (via Bert Pomeroy Facebook)
The town has outlined a number of “essential requirements” that must be in place before any development proceeds.
They include expansion of the municipal water supply, long-term waste-management planning, improvement to water and sewer services, upgraded emergency response – including a new fire, hall, municipal depot and ambulance facilities – and “critical” road and road-safety improvements.
Pomeroy says past megaprojects in Labrador, including Muskrat Falls, have demonstrated what he calls the consequences of inadequate planning to address social impacts and increased pressure on mental-health and addictions services, housing, community safety and crime.
Pomeroy and his council acknowledge Premier Tony Wakeham’s commitment to work with the town as the projects move forward, and the mayor says he intends to hold the premier to that promise.
