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WINNIPEG – Dozens of Sage Creek residents gathered Monday to voice their concerns over the proposed construction of new Hydro lines in their community.

The atmosphere was tense at a meeting hosted by Manitoba Hydro.

“Surprise turns to a bit of anger and then disdain for the way it’s gone,” Sage Creek resident Jay Amell said.

The proposal is for two new lines to be added to one that already exists.

“One is required for reliability and the others required because of growing demand in the southeast part of the province,” Bill Henderson of Manitoba Hydro explained. “So we have to add to our capacity to move electricity in a safe and reliable fashion.”

Some residents said they didn’t find out about the plan until one week ago. The land the new lines would go on is on land owned by Manitoba Hydro.

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“I would’ve thought when the development was established, there could have been possibly some disclosure to future residents that these were plans,” Sage Creek resident Bert Wiebe said.

Along with concern over property values dropping, residents are also worried about their health, but Hydro said the plan would have the line within the regulated space.

“We would not be proposing something we feel is unsafe or unhealthy.”

If approved, the proposed transmission line is expected to be operating by 2016.