Sunnyside needs flood protection, residents tell city

Frustratedresidents affected several times by flooding in Sunnyside told a council committee on Wednesday that the city must do more to protect them.

When the Bow River poured into the northwest Calgary district last month, Wally Bohalsky went out and bought two pumps to fight the water for two days.

"I can't just watch the train wreck on TV. It doesn't work for me, so I expect also our city folks to take the same attitude," he said.

Tim Kitchen said he saw water come into Sunnyside again days later during an intense rainstorm.

That water that drained out of the streets when someone opened storm water gates that the city had left closed, he said.

"When those aren't operated correctly, they're not sized appropriately, we become a dry pond that turns into a wet pond. That needs to be addressed," he said.

But no immediate changes are coming for the people of Sunnyside.

City officials told the committee looking at community drainage priorities that Haysboro and Westgate top the list.

The city has $170-million worth of projects to tackle, officials said. But with only a few million dollars per year in the budget, it will take 24 years to get them all done.