The federal, provincial and municipal governments announced Wednesday they’ll spend a total of $107 million to improve Edmonton’s storm water management system.
The government of Canada will contribute up to $30.3 million, the province will give up to $11.9 million and the city will cover the remaining costs.
The new infrastructure project aims to protect residents of Mill Woods and their property in the case of heavy rains and flooding.
“Community-level flood mitigation projects like those planned for southeast Edmonton are so important because they protect people, homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure against the impacts of severe weather events,” Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said. “Building on the provincial funding already in place, the federal funding announced today will help address a pressing need in Mill Woods and ensure Edmonton is better able to adapt to a changing climate where severe weather events will be more common.”
READ MORE: Edmonton seeks additional $6M to complete Mill Woods flood mitigation project
In February, the city said it would need an additional $6.4 million to complete work on its Mill Woods flood mitigation project.
Originally budgeted at $41.4 million, the Mill Woods Double Barrel Replacement project was later increased to $81 million. The completion date was set for March 2017, more than three years after the original December 2013 completion date.
“We’ll take the cash,” Coun. Mike Nickel said Wednesday. “This has been a long time coming. Mill Woods has had this problem since the 70s, since we built this development… These flooding problems are historic.”
He said, when a flood or another disaster happens, everyone pays for it through their insurance rates. Despite the delay in the project, he thinks residents will welcome it.
“They will be patient because they do appreciate that we’re trying to alleviate the problem. The struggle is always… to communicate what we’re doing, when we’re doing it and why we’re doing it to the community.”
READ MORE: Mill Woods residents question city’s drainage system
Over the last few years, the community was hard-hit by flash flooding. In 2012, more than 500 homes reported flooding.
“Chaos! It was a lot of chaos,” North Millbourne resident, Karrie Baker, recalled.
“There were a lot of families who were moved out of their homes for months and months on end. A lot of anguish because things you can’t replace… your parents wedding pictures, your kids’ baby pictures.”
The storm water management project will help the area deal with rain by “providing overland storage for storm water and increased capacity in the storm-sewer system,” the federal government said in a news release.
“The project will help to protect more than 1,000 properties, including homes, schools and local businesses.”
“Having many friends and family who live in Mill Woods, I know how important this project is for our community,” Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi said. “By making strategic investments in effective disaster mitigation infrastructure, we will reduce the frequency and severity of impacts, and protect our families from extreme natural events.”
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said the city was grateful to the provincial and federal governments for partnering with Edmonton on the project.
“We look forward to continuing to work together to invest in local infrastructure which we know will not only create jobs and grow our economy but improve the lives of Edmontonians.”
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