Potential solutions voiced at brainstorming session
‘ I’m looking for a quick fix’ – resident
TRURO – Public reaction was mixed to the results of a flooding meeting in Truro this week.
About 50 people concerned about flooding issues in Normandy Avenue and Park and North streets met with town officials Thursday night to brainstorm ideas on possible short and long- term flooding solutions.
Normandy Avenue resident Terry LaPointe is hopeful the concerns will be addressed in the near future.
“I think it’ll make a difference to a point. I’m encouraged,” said LaPointe. “I’m hoping it’ll be better in six months so we’ll see how fast they can do something.”
Gary Matheson, another Normandy Avenue resident, wasn’t as optimistic.
“I’m frustrated. They’re looking at a longterm ( solution) and I know it’s needed, but I’m looking for a quick fix,” said Matheson.
Residents voiced a number of suggestions to lessen flooding woes. Francis Collins, who lives on Ford Street, said the town is making the situation worse by some of its decisionmaking.
“People are allowed permits to build on a flood plain. The town is partly at fault,” said Collins as clapping erupted from the crowd.
Other public ideas included extending the storm water system to the south of Normandy Avenue, cleaning debris caught in fencing at the fields near Cobequid Educational Centre, excavating the area near Stanfields to widen the Salmon River and building another dike, raising existing dikes, dredging the river and putting a gate up in the dike area to direct water away from homes.
“We would need a secondary dike to work from Stanfields to Marshland and to the Palliser and direct it back to the river for that to work,” said Ward 2 Coun. Brian Kinsman.
Andrew MacKinnon, the town’s director of public works, warned that dredging rivers could be “futile because another storm could fill it in again.”
He confirmed the town hasn’t asked for a permit to dredge the Salmon River since the 1970s.
MacKinnon added any upgrades to dikes are the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture. He also said it’s possible in the short term that sandbags or geotubes could be placed at key points.
“It could be done before end of the year ... even though it’s a big job,” said MacKinnon.
Truro Mayor Bill Mills said the provincial government is setting up a commission to investigate local flooding. He added a letter has been sent to CN Rail requesting discussions on how CN can improve water flow around its property.
Ward 1 Coun. Raymond Tynes said the issue has been studied in the town for 13 years and he’s tired of studies.
“Forget the roads for a little bit and put the infrastructure money to deal with this,” said Tynes.
The town will consider the suggestions. Some ideas such as looking into receiving water areas, making sure culverts aren’t obstructed and requesting meetings with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment could be done sooner rather than later, said Kinsman.
“Timewise, we can set up meetings now and about Christmas we will start our budget ... to find money to do more immediate things I think we can do that,” said Kinsman.
A community- wide meeting to discuss flooding will be held on Nov. 6 at the fire hall. The time has yet to be confirmed, but is estimated to be 6 or 6: 30 p. m.