The Brooks family farm in Simcoe County is on land targeted by the federal government for a billion-dollar radar installation.
Fifty landowners received letters from the government expressing intent to buy their properties or those of their neighbors.
The unexpected letter from the Department of National Defence (DND) “came out of the blue,” said Rachel Brooks, a farmer in Stayner, Ontario.
The DND’s letter detailed plans to acquire a large piece of land for an “Arctic – Over the Horizon Radar” (A-OTHR) system as part of Canada’s commitment to NORAD. The Brooks family farm in Clearview Township sits in an ideal location for this 4,000-acre military project.
The extensive farmland being sought, located 35 km west of Barrie, is highly productive and would be prized by any farmer. Much of it consists of flat, fertile soil that supports various crops including vegetables and potatoes, alongside livestock. Local history indicates that some farms were first plowed over 200 years ago.
For 45 years, two generations of the Brooks family have cultivated this land. “We didn’t do this for the government,” said Brooks, referencing decades spent investing in their property. The thought of losing it now after all those years spent clearing, draining and preparing it is “heartbreaking,” she added.
About 50 property owners received similar letters from the DND. However, it’s unclear how many properties are actually within the area targeted by this nearly $40 billion initiative. Additionally, details about how large a buffer zone will be around the radar site remain vague.
The DND aims to finalize its site selection by late 2025 and plans to start negotiations with property owners by spring. However, Brooks claims that property owners are facing challenges getting information from the DND due to a lack of communication.
“So far, radio silence,” Brooks says.
This situation leaves farmers in uncertainty about whether they’ll keep their land for another year. Losing even part of their acreage would disrupt farming operations; finding replacement land is nearly impossible and their equipment is tailored to fit their current holdings. Cash-cropper Dan De Boer mentioned he stands to lose more than half his farmland due to this acquisition and road closures will force him to travel almost five times further just to reach some fields beyond the proposed DND site.
The DND has already secured a substantial portion of its target acreage after one landowner put roughly 711 acres up for sale. While anyone could bid on this property listing, few individuals had the means to purchase such a sizable block. It didn’t stay on the market long before being bought by the government for reportedly just over $14 million.
An illustration showing how Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar reflects radio waves to monitor targets up to 3,000 km away. Latitude matters according to federal officials; that’s why they’re focused on farmland in Simcoe County.
There are specific criteria needed for establishing a radar facility; technology relies on latitude and requires flat dry ground. Trees may need removal and wetlands might require filling as per DND documents. Out of over 700 acres already purchased, around 500 are arable while the rest consists mainly of swamp near Minesing Wetlands.
Residents from Clearview Township have voiced concerns regarding potential hydrological impacts stemming from major ground restructuring necessary for building radar facilities.
Piles of soil-potentially millions of tonnes-will be excavated then replaced with appropriate aggregate material so that strict standards can be met for sensitive radar technology usage.
Since most recently acquired land lies at one end of what’s targeted overall, questions have arisen regarding drainage effects on nearby farms as well.
Another question residents ponder is why does DND seek such a large area when it already owns thousands at CFB Camp Borden training base? Government sources say Camp Borden spans 21,000 acres but only uses about 6,000 acres dedicated solely as training space. Locals wonder why their peaceful agricultural community should face disruption when sufficient space exists under current ownership by DND?
DND gas mask training at CFB Camp Borden located southward from Barrie, Ontario. Only six thousand acres out-of-the-total twenty-one thousand acre expanse are utilized as active training grounds there.
“Distressed” captures Clearview Mayor Doug Measures’ sentiment while passionately discussing how much impact intended radar installation will have on local communities. This initiative doesn’t just take away agricultural lands; it uproots entire community dynamics along with its economy too-and overall damage outweighs merely lost tax revenue across vast stretches impacted significantly instead!
“Where are the community benefits?” he asked DND without any response forthcoming thus far.
This lack of clarity along with unresponsiveness has left folks in Clearview Township feeling “frustrated and desperate,” noted Mayor Measures further adding farmers can’t prepare effectively if they don’t know which lands remain available next season! “They don’t start making plans next April,” he emphasized-pointing out crop rotations marketing efforts must begin long before planting season arrives come spring!
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The DND’s letter detailed plans to acquire a large piece of land for an “Arctic – Over the Horizon Radar” (A-OTHR) system as part of Canada’s commitment to NORAD. The Brooks family farm in Clearview Township sits in an ideal location for this 4,000-acre military project.
The extensive farmland being sought, located 35 km west of Barrie, is highly productive and would be prized by any farmer. Much of it consists of flat, fertile soil that supports various crops including vegetables and potatoes, alongside livestock. Local history indicates that some farms were first plowed over 200 years ago.
For 45 years, two generations of the Brooks family have cultivated this land. “We didn’t do this for the government,” said Brooks, referencing decades spent investing in their property. The thought of losing it now after all those years spent clearing, draining and preparing it is “heartbreaking,” she added.
About 50 property owners received similar letters from the DND. However, it’s unclear how many properties are actually within the area targeted by this nearly $40 billion initiative. Additionally, details about how large a buffer zone will be around the radar site remain vague.
The DND aims to finalize its site selection by late 2025 and plans to start negotiations with property owners by spring. However, Brooks claims that property owners are facing challenges getting information from the DND due to a lack of communication.
“So far, radio silence,” Brooks says.
This situation leaves farmers in uncertainty about whether they’ll keep their land for another year. Losing even part of their acreage would disrupt farming operations; finding replacement land is nearly impossible and their equipment is tailored to fit their current holdings. Cash-cropper Dan De Boer mentioned he stands to lose more than half his farmland due to this acquisition and road closures will force him to travel almost five times further just to reach some fields beyond the proposed DND site.
The DND has already secured a substantial portion of its target acreage after one landowner put roughly 711 acres up for sale. While anyone could bid on this property listing, few individuals had the means to purchase such a sizable block. It didn’t stay on the market long before being bought by the government for reportedly just over $14 million.
An illustration showing how Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar reflects radio waves to monitor targets up to 3,000 km away. Latitude matters according to federal officials; that’s why they’re focused on farmland in Simcoe County.
There are specific criteria needed for establishing a radar facility; technology relies on latitude and requires flat dry ground. Trees may need removal and wetlands might require filling as per DND documents. Out of over 700 acres already purchased, around 500 are arable while the rest consists mainly of swamp near Minesing Wetlands.
Residents from Clearview Township have voiced concerns regarding potential hydrological impacts stemming from major ground restructuring necessary for building radar facilities.
Piles of soil-potentially millions of tonnes-will be excavated then replaced with appropriate aggregate material so that strict standards can be met for sensitive radar technology usage.
Since most recently acquired land lies at one end of what’s targeted overall, questions have arisen regarding drainage effects on nearby farms as well.
Another question residents ponder is why does DND seek such a large area when it already owns thousands at CFB Camp Borden training base? Government sources say Camp Borden spans 21,000 acres but only uses about 6,000 acres dedicated solely as training space. Locals wonder why their peaceful agricultural community should face disruption when sufficient space exists under current ownership by DND?
DND gas mask training at CFB Camp Borden located southward from Barrie, Ontario. Only six thousand acres out-of-the-total twenty-one thousand acre expanse are utilized as active training grounds there.
“Distressed” captures Clearview Mayor Doug Measures’ sentiment while passionately discussing how much impact intended radar installation will have on local communities. This initiative doesn’t just take away agricultural lands; it uproots entire community dynamics along with its economy too-and overall damage outweighs merely lost tax revenue across vast stretches impacted significantly instead!
“Where are the community benefits?” he asked DND without any response forthcoming thus far.
This lack of clarity along with unresponsiveness has left folks in Clearview Township feeling “frustrated and desperate,” noted Mayor Measures further adding farmers can’t prepare effectively if they don’t know which lands remain available next season! “They don’t start making plans next April,” he emphasized-pointing out crop rotations marketing efforts must begin long before planting season arrives come spring!
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