The West London Dyke is getting a big boost from the federal government in a bid to protect over 1,200 structures, and 2,600 people, from the threat of flooding.
London North Centre Member of Parliament Peter Fragiskatos made the announcement Friday, on behalf of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, that the government would be putting $3 million over the next three years into dyke reconstruction, which Fragiskatos said will prevent destruction and tragedy.
“This funding will help protect our community from the flooding and mitigate potential impacts that could result from emergencies,” he said. “I would like to recognize the great collaboration of all level of governments that are working together to manage and mitigate emergencies situations.”
The announcement comes as welcome news to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the agency tasked with managing the region’s primary waterway.
Chris Tasker, the authority’s manager of water information management, said dyke improvement is a necessity, as flooding can cause tens of millions of dollars in damages, not to mention potential human costs.
“This dyke was constructed back…in the 1800s with the first record of flooding,” he said. “It’s been improved and strengthened and raised over the years with each additional flood, but this brings it up to today’s standards, protecting against a re-occurrence of a flood.”
The most significant flood of the Upper Thames River was in 1937, Tasker said, which would have caused $65 million in damage today.
Mayor Matt Brown, who attended the Friday announcement, said global warming makes the upgrades an imperative.
“The West London Dyke offers protection to residents and their homes during extreme weather. Unfortunately, we now live in an era where climate is changing, and storms develop faster. What we considered a 250-year storm could happen with much greater frequency, as we move forward.”
Public Safety Canada’s $3 million cash injection is part of a $6.6-million investment, with the remaining funds coming from the provincial and municipal governments.
People often think of flood damage in terms of property estimates, but Fragiskatos said its important to understand the human toll of flooding.
Fragiskatos commended the UTRCA for its advocacy on the importance of dyke upgrades in recent years.