A citizen’s group has asked the Lakehead Public School Board to join the fight against the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park.
Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee health and safety co-chair Margot Freitag, who is also a school board employee, made a presentation to the board Tuesday evening to discuss health concerns for students and staff at Nor’Westerview Public School should the estimated 18 wind turbines be installed. Freitag said the project would be within 2.6 kilometres of the school which could lead to everything from night terrors to ocular strokes for staff and students.
Freitag asked the board to request a moratorium on the wind farm until a third party health study, which Frietag said the provincial government has denied so far, is conducted. The committee wants the board to make a deputation or write a letter to city council expressing their support for the moratorium.
"Reports internationally are consistent that when children are living to close to a wind turbine…learning and cognitive functions are impaired and memory is impaired as well," Freitag said. " This is too close (to Nor’Westerview)."
Because the presentation was for information only, trustees could not debate the issue or make a decision Tuesday night. The information will be given to a committee within the board and could be brought back to the board for a decision. Frietag said she’s confident that the board will do what the committee feels is the right thing. Wind farms are a new and complex issue for everyone added Freitag.
" My hope is that they will review that information," said Freitag. "I am absolutely sure that they will do what they feel is in the best interest of the students and staff of Nor’Wester View School."
