Natural gas decision may come soon, but warwick has heard that before

Heather Wright/The Independent

In 2018, the Ford government sent the then Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP to Warwick with good news; natural gas was coming to the community.

Eight years and dozens of meetings with the provincial government later, the community is still waiting.

During a Round Table hosted by The Independent Sept. 30, the incumbents running in the Oct. 26 expressed frustration with the process and pride that they’re still working to get natural gas to homes and farms in the community.

“This past council has hammered pretty hard on the provincial government to try and get natural gas to the village in Warwick. We’re not done yet,” said John Couwenberg.

“We’re hosting the second or third largest landfill in the country. We’re now hopefully turning on some renewable natural gas. I think this township deserves to have natural gas.”

That natural gas plant at the Twin Creeks Landfill is an irritating reminder of the 2018 announcement.

“We have a natural gas plant going up there, and people are watching it get trucked right out of town or being shipped pipeline out of town. And I know that’s making a lot of people angry,” said Joe Manning.

The council, Manning adds, is still talking with government ministers.

Wayne Morris, who is also seeking another term on council, says a recent application which shows the housing growth coming to Watford is getting attention because more homes will be served.

Morris has been told “the decision is coming from the government very soon. But to be fair to the people of Warwick Village, I’ve heard that before. We’ve done everything we can possibly do, except dig the pipeline in ourselves.”

The Round Table discussion included Jane Joris, Marty Vanos and Steve Kettler, who are also seeking seats on council.

Below is the full, uneditted Round Table discussion. It was recorded with an iPhone so parts of the interview may be difficult to hear.