Centre Wellington council has agreed to a spot for the relocation of a hydro substation along with construction of accessible washrooms in Bissell Park.
On Jan. 20 councillors approved a recommendation to relocate the hydro substation from 12 Mill Street Elora to Bissell Park just off Mill Street, directly across from Chalmers Street.
Further, as part of the project, council approved the installation of accessible washrooms in conjunction with the hydro substation relocation.
Currently, the hydro substation is located on East Mill Street near the corner of Metcalfe Street.
Centre Wellington Hydro plans to relocate an upgraded Elora substation on a parcel of land in Bissell Park by Mill Street and Chalmers Street.
Centre Wellington Community Services then recommended the development of accessible washrooms in Bissell Park in conjunction with this development.
Accessible washrooms in the park was identified as a need in previous master plans as well as based upon the robust diversified program activity in the park.
In his report to council, managing director of community services Brian Detzler explained that some of the reasons for relocation of the hydro substation include its age (estimated to be over 50 years old), condition, aesthetics (due to its location in the downtown core), and its proximity to adjacent commercial structures.
In addition, the building beside the current substation is too close to the high voltage structure and does not meet the minimum clearance requirements under the Ontario Building Code.
Detzler said today’s electrical standards would not allow this substation to be located where it is – due to low clearances, site security (windows that open into the substation yard), and station grounding.
Centre Wellington Hydro staff looked at several potential locations and determined the most desirable location is in Bissell Park. Hydro staff met with Centre Wellington staff to review the Bissell Park area.
It was determined this would be an appropriate opportunity to align the timing of the substation work with the installation of planned accessible washrooms in Bissell Park as identified in previous master plans.
The existing hydro substation at 10 Mill Street will be active until the new substation installation is commissioned for use, likely this fall.
Then the existing hydro substation will be dismantled. Following that work the design work to prepare 10 Mill Street for the relocation of the visitor information centre in Elora (presently at 9 Mill Street) will be initiated.
