Fort McMurray fire delays work on capital projects

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalocouncil has temporarily suspended work on 88 of 204 capital projects scheduled this year due to delays and a cash crunch caused by the wildfire evacuation last month.

However, following appeals from residents, councillors agreed to resume work on a project to getpiped water and sewer in the hamlets of Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Saprae Creek, which are part of the municipality.

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The project was originally included on the list of suspended projects. It was moved to the priority list after councillors passed a motion by Coun. Tyran Ault.

Residents argued piped water and sewer werepromised when hamlets joined the regionalmunicipality 20 years ago.

They say a lack of piped water means their communities lack fire hydrants, which became an issuein fighting last month's wildfire.

"Our firefighters were finding water wherever they could," Anzac resident June Catton told councillors. "They were using water from residents' tanks. In Gregoire Lake Estates, they were using swimming pools for water. Anything to fight the fire."

Other residents say a lack of water and sewer prevents additional development in rural communities.

2 months lost

City administration said the reasonsome projects were on the suspended list was because two months of the construction seasonwere lost to the fire, leaving not enough timeto complete them.

What people are asking for tonight is a need and it has been a need since 1995.- Coun. Phil Meagher

Another problem is that the new water treatment plant for Anzac and Gregoire Lake Estates was heavily damaged in the fire.

It will have to be rebuilt at the same time the pipes are put in the ground to sustain higher water and sewer usage.

"I'm not suggesting cancellation," said deputy chief administrative officer Kevin Scoble. "This is about timing and scheduling. And the reality is, to put pipes in the ground within the hamlets this year when we were planning to start in July and August is not practical right now.

"It's about getting a fresh start in the spring if council continues to approve this project."

Coun. Phil Meagher said the municipality needs to honour an agreement to give rural communities basic services like water, sewers and fire hydrants.

"What people are asking for tonight is a need and it has been a need since 1995, and maybe beyond that. But that was part of the amalgamation promise, was to meet basic needs of the rural community," he said.

City administration will spend another month reviewing items on the suspended list and report on whether they can go ahead on July 19. No projects have yet been cancelled.