$33M for Calgary flood mitigation projects announced

Officials from all three levels of government announced almost $33 million in funding Thursday for a pair of flood mitigation projects in Calgary.

A flood protectionberm will be built,east of the Bonnybrook wastewater treatment plant in southeast Calgary, which was inundated during the 2013 emergency, forcing the city to discharge untreated sewage into the Bow River for a brief time.

The project also includes upgrades to the groundwater and storm water infrastructure to help keep the plant from flooding again.

And a new pump station will be built in Sunnyside, one of the communities that saw major flooding in the 2013 disaster.

"Fantastic news," said Charlie Lund, a member of the emergency preparedness committee of the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association.

"We had been hoping we would see this kind of funding commitment from the federal government and we are overjoyed to actually see it."

The new infrastructure will direct water away from the low-lying district into the Bow River.

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The Government of Alberta has pledged up to $11.5 million toward the Bonnybrook upgrades.

Ottawa will contribute about $10.5 million towards the cost of both the Bonnybrook and Sunnyside improvements.

"By making strategic investments in effective disaster mitigation infrastructure like this project in Calgary, we will better protect families and communities from extreme natural events," said Calgary Liberal MP Darshan Singh Kang in a release.

The city is covering the remainder of the costs for both projects, which have a combined price tag of $32.9 million.

"The 2013 flood caused significant social and economic disruption and unprecedented damages," said Ward 7 Coun. Druh Farrell in a release.

"The road from recovery to resiliency is a complex, long term process over many years with short, medium and long term milestones. We greatly appreciate the support of the Governments of Canada and Alberta in this journey, and helping take us one step closer to flood resilience."