WESTLOCK – Work has started on the $4.9 million west industrial stormwater project which the Town of Westlock hopes will protect residents and business from another 100-year flood like the one in August 2016 that caused millions of dollars in damages across the community.
Included as part of the municipality’s 2021-26 capital budget unanimously passed by council Feb. 8, the job which started last week includes construction of a naturalized stormwater management pond — a project the town says will incorporate existing wetland areas into the design and provides natural plantings around the pond's perimeter to accommodate wildlife.
Dollars for all of the work came from the Alberta Community Resiliency Program and the Federal Investing in Canada Plan.
“I’ve had lots of people calling me over the flooding of their basements and the storm problems … this problem has been on the books since 2004 as there was a report in 2004 that suggested that we had to do something and it’s taken us this long to get it done. It’s this council that made the difference in making the decision to get it done,” said Coun. Clem Fagnan at council’s Feb. 8 meeting.
In a release the town notes that the project will improve runoff quality by providing a site for suspended solids' settlement and removing contaminants from the watercourse. Additionally, this pond will provide a buffer to the downstream residents by easing the flows moving through the outlet of the Wabash Creek.
As well, the existing 3.6-kilometre main drainage channel, which has degraded over time, will see its structural and natural capacities increased to adapt for climate impacts, disasters, and extreme weather events, like the 2016 flood. The culvert crossings at 96th Avenue and 113A Street and 96th Avenue and 108th Street will be upgraded as well as the drainage channel along the west side of 96th Avenue.
For CAO Simone Wiley, the start of the project is especially gratifying as the municipality had to work hard to secure the necessary grants.
“This is risk mitigation at its finest. It’s an extremely important project for the town and we’ve also been trying to fund this project for over two years. It’s costly, it’s an expensive project, but it’s very needed in the community so I’m thrilled to see it going forward,” said Wiley.
“I’ve put a lot of effort into following up government officials on the grant side of things, so I’m really happy that this is actually going ahead.”
Although it’s not the biggest project underway in Westlock this year — the $7.3 million 108th Street rehabilitation project takes top honours — councillors highlighted it as one of the most important the municipality has ever embarked on.
“These projects are going to touch people in their daily lives, especially in regards to the storm pond and the improvements to get stormwater out of town,” noted Coun. David Truckey at the Feb. 8 meeting. “People are not going to be worrying as nearly as much after 20 minutes of rain. I think that’s long been a goal of this council and that’s a huge impact to our citizens. To me that’s a highlight in this budget. It’s a strategy that I’m glad to see come to fruition.”
