Burlington Ward 6 Rural Broadband Internet Project Update: April 1, 2022

Rural Burlington
Written By

Please see below this week’s project update from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Angelo Bentivegna for the Rural Ward 6 Internet Broadband project, as we continue working with stakeholders and residents to provide information about the completion of this essential rural broadband project.We look forward to the next meeting with residents that is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. – more details will be shared closer to the date. Please save the below dates for future meetings:

  • Wednesday, May 18 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.;
  • June: Wed. June 15 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.;
  • July: Wed. July 13 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.;
  • Details for how to join will be shared closer to each date.

Update as of March 29, 2022:ApprovalsBest Management Practices Report:The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC), Halton Region and Conservation Halton Received the Best Management Practices report from the applicant and currently reviewing the details to ensure all comments were addressed. It is anticipated that review of the Best Management practices Report will be complete by the end of the week.Site Plan Review:The site plan drawings will also be reviewed, and preliminary feedback is that most concerns were addressed.Halton Region staff is also reviewing the Road Occupancy and Municipal Consent application, and that review is largely completed. This review is necessary to ensure that these are consistent with the Best Management Practice Report supplied by the applicant and that all applicable notes are included on the site plan drawings.The NEC and Conservation Halton are also reviewing the Site Plans to ensure that all comments have been addressed.Once the NEC receives confirmation from the Conservation authority as well as Halton Region that their comments have been satisfied, the NEC will commence the process of issuing the Development Permit, which may take a couple of days.The City of Burlington relies on the agencies to do the review both the Site Plan and Best Management Practices. Following receipt of the permits from agencies, the City would be able to issue the Municipal Consent permit.The NEC appeal period expired on March 22nd at midnight and we are happy to report that there were no appeals filed by the deadline.ArboristIASL will retain the services of an arborist of their choice. As a reminder, we want to share a note from a previous update to clarify:All applicants for construction projects that may impact city trees are required to provide a tree preservation plan and arborist submission. However, early in this process the city waived that requirement to save the applicant time. The city worked on a plan agreed to by IASL/Standard Broadband to have an arborist visit the site as required as construction begins on various legs of the projects. (They would not remain onsite for the duration of construction). They have the option to hire their own arborist for this work or use the city’s third party contractor, which the city has secured at a preferred rate.The City might provide a list of arborists to the applicant, but will not suggest any one in particular.Construction process IASL/Standard Broadcasting continues to be confident that construction is expected to begin in May and will be completed on time.Pipelines, Hydro, Creeks, Regional Road constructionIASL reported this week that their teams are working on the aerial crossings, and this work is expected to be completed during next week. They will however not submit any Pole Line Permits with Burlington Hydro until the Joint Use Agreement is approved first. A draft agreement was provided to IASL for their review. The permit and application is contingent on the agreement regarding cost-sharing and contingencies. That review is expected to be complete next week.For reference: Pole line permits includes a plan of all crossings with poles shown, pole profiles, anchors and also structural analysis of the poles. The permit and the application is all contingent on the Joint Use Agreement.The gas companies also need permits, and those applications are also underway. The applicant will need to secure locates for all of the pipelines as part of the permit process. The applicant is looking to secure the services of a  private Locator Contractor to do this work.IASL is confident that there will not be any delays in starting the project due to locates.Sections of the project that do not involve a hydro/creek/pipeline crossing can be completed up to the area where the crossing is required, to save time. The section involving the Creek, hydro or pipe line crossing can be completed later once permits are received.The NEC, Conservation Halton and Halton Region is confident that it would be safe to move forward with processing their permits in alignment with the above permits as there are normally no natural features surrounding pipelines. Regional Public Works staff may need to update drawings to facilitate Regional road crossings, but this should not impact the release of the Region’s comments to the NEC regarding the Best Management Practices report.Next StepsThe group will meet again next week and hope to share positive news with regards to the NEC permit and other pending permits, as well as continue to provide updates on any outstanding items to keeping this project moving as expected.Timeline:Below is information that has been shared with the community in previous updates, but is restated here for convenience.March-April 2022Per the applicant’s webpage, once permits are issued IASL/Standard Broadband will:

  • finalize and post their construction schedule on their webpage
  • order locates for underground utilities

May-June-July 2022Per the applicant’s webpage, once locates are issued, IASL/Standard Broadband will:

  • bring in equipment
  • begin construction, which is expected to take three months

Webpage:The city has set up a dedicated Rural Internet Installation webpage for the two rural broadband projects currently underway here: https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/rural-internet-installation.aspPlease check back regularly for updates. If you have subscribed to the page, you’ll receive an alert each time new information is posted.Comments/Questions:The Mayor’s office received a question regarding residents on the borderlines of the project: “Will residents living on both sides of every road bordering the project receive service, or only those living on the inner side of every border road? For example Derry Rd, Side Rd 1, Bell School Line etc.”. The answer to that is Yes, both sides of every road is included in the project. Please refer to the map on the city’s website to see the project area.Please feel free to share this update with other rural residents who may be interested.If you have any additional questions, please let us know and we will endeavour to get answers and include them in a future update.Please be assured that we are all working toward the same shared goal of securing rural broadband for our residents as soon as possible.Sincerely,Marianne & AngeloMayor Marianne Meed Ward & Ward 6 Councillor Angelo BentivegnaRELATED LINKS:

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