EDMONTON – City Council has decided not to turn Edmonton’s Great Divide Waterfall on the High Level Bridge back on.
The waterfall was created in 1980, but was turned off several years ago.
The waterfall used chlorinated water, and higher environmental standards led the City to look for new solutions on what could be done.
One option being considered had an estimated cost of $2.6 million.
With limited funding, councillors decided it wasn’t a priority.
“This is a want and not a need,” said Councillor Mike Nickel.
“When you measure it against the drainage issues we’ve got in Mill Woods, or the pot holes, or the roads, or all the other stuff that we’ve got going on, you know, every dollar counts.”
“Nobody comes to a city because there are no potholes,” said Councillor Ben Henderson.
“They come to a city for other intangible things… they’re just as important to protect.”
“The thing that concerns me a little bit about this is that we’re so prepared to walk away from something that I think is important to our citizens, has been important to our citizens in the past and is part of what makes the city – and has made the city for many years – a fun place to be and a great place to live in,” Henderson added.
“We were talking about creating iconic things for the city… and fighting to create new icons when we can’t take care of the ones we had seemed a little bit backwards in thinking,” said Henderson.
“I’m disappointed.”
READ MORE: Future of Great Divide Waterfall uncertain
While Mayor Don Iveson has fond memories of the Great Divide Waterfall, he believes council is ready to move on from it.
“The cost of restoring the waterfall to what many of us remember it during its glory days is in the millions of dollars, and there was just no appetite on council to spend city money to get there, there was a debate about whether we turn it out to the community.”
“Unless somebody comes forward and wants to raise you know $2 plus million… then I think we have to go through a process now to decommission it,” he added.
“It was wonderful while it lasted, but it’s not good to dump that much tap water in the river, we now know.”
Still, he says the High Level Bridge will remain a highlight of the city.
“We’ve got the lights coming on this summer, so it’s not like the bridge isn’t going to continue to be a focal point and a great postcard shot for the city.”
Last year, council set aside just over $700,000 for the Great Divide Waterfall. That funding will be redirected to other projects.
With files from Vinesh Pratap, Global News
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