Hydro One clearing corridors throughout Burlington
Hydro One will be clearing their corridors throughout Burlington over the next few months, trimming or removing trees and other vegetation that may be at risk of interfering with hydro lines.
Work on the Cumberland Transformer Station (Cumberland Street west along the QEW to Grahams Lane then south to the Beach Strip and into Hamilton) will begin in June, followed by the Nelson Junction (Upper Middle Road from Burloak to Tyandaga), the Tremaine Transformer Station (Appleby/Dundas south west to QEW/Brant) and lastly, the Forestvale Drive/Skyview Drive area. Work on the Centennial Path area is expected to begin in the fall. Hydro One also advised that discussions regarding encroachments in the corridors will take place later in the year and will be managed by Hydro One’s realty department.
Any trees slated for removal will be marked with an orange circle.
I recently met with Hydro One representations, along with our city arborist, to learn more about their plans, and to encourage tree trimming rather than removal where possible. A Hydro One forestry technician is meeting with our city arborist to discuss locations where low-growing trees (e.g. crab apples, lilacs) can be retained during each phase of the work. Hydro One has also agreed to defer the removal of trees from the beach strip in light of recent discussions about potentially relocating the hydro towers in the coming years. In the interim, some of these trees may be pruned.
The work is being undertaken to assist Hydro One in complying with the requirements under NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation). NERC requires Hydro One to remove all trees and brush in the active transmission right of way. Hydro One will be providing the city with the number of trees and bushes that are being removed as soon as possible. Hydro One has advised that fines for non-compliance at the end of 2015 will be up to $ 1 million per day per infraction.
Hydro One is informing residents and businesses along the corridors about the tree removal activity through letters and face to face meetings where required. Representatives from Hydro One will also be attending the Thorpe Park neighbourhood meeting. Details of the meeting are below:
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery of Burlington, Rotary Room, 1333 Lakeshore Rd. (parking available on site at
$1.75/hr until 8 p.m. or free on area streets)
More information about the meeting is available here:
