Flood-prone properties in north Breezy Point to be decommissioned

The Manitoba government is getting rid of flood-prone properties located in the north portion of Breezy Point, advising homeownerstheir leases of the Crown land will be terminated.

There are 42 homes in the area that are affected.

"The government is very sympathetic to the plight of flood-prone lot holders and has carefully considered how to deal with the ongoing flooding issues at Breezy Point," Conservation Minister Stan Struthers said Friday afternoon.

'The government is very sympathetic to the plight of flood-prone lot holders and has carefully considered how to deal with the ongoing flooding issues at Breezy Point.' Conservation Minister Stan Struthers

"Flood prevention and protection measures in this area are not viable, and flooding will continue to pose an ongoing risk to the lives of both cottagers and rescuers for as long as settlement remains in this area."

Cottagers will be given the option to voluntarily terminate their lease or permit and the province would compensate the lot holder based on an appraised pre-flood market value, Struthers said.

Cottage owners will have until the fall to work out an agreed value with the province.If they don't voluntarily terminate the lease and work out an agreement, the province will simply pull the lease and not allow them to return.

Flash flood

It's been a month since ice jams on the Red River caused extensive damage to the community north of Winnipeg, in the rural municipality of St. Andrews. The fast-flowing Red River slammed into metre-thick ice that had jammed the river.

The blocked water jumped the banks and created a flash flood that shoved large chunks of ice into riverfront properties in both the rural municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements.

There are about 112 homes in Breezy Point, a mix of cottages and permanent residences. Much of the area was littered with debris and houses that were torn from their foundations. Many houses have been marked by provincial flood officials, painted with an orange X to identify them as unsuitable for use.

The government is still working on a plan for compensation and buyouts in much of the area, where the homes are on privately owned land. The buyouts will only be offered to permanent residents, not cottage owners.

The situation is different in the north section of Breezy Point, where the land belongs to the Crown and people lease it from the government.

"Due to the risk to cottagers and rescuers, the province plans to move forward with decommissioning of the Breezy Point north subdivision," Struthers said.

Much of the area is still without electricity or telephone service as Manitoba Hydro decided to hold off on rebuilding its infrastructure in case the government decided to take this step.

James Patterson, a year-round resident in Breezy Point, doesn't want to leave but knows he has no choice.

"They are terminating our lease and there's a buyout in place. So, what can you do?" he said. "You can't fight them, they're the owners of the land. They can do what they want, I guess."

Buyouts in St. Clements

In St. Clements, Mayor Steve Strang is calling for about 18 homes along the Red River to be bought out because the area is routinely flooded.

Not only are there concerns about mould issues in rebuilt homes, emergency officials also face risks when trying to rescue stranded residents, and it's not fair to keep putting them through that, Strang said.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton said Friday that a number of options are still being discussed with the federal government, however the province supports the RM of St. Clements offering a buyout program in the St. Peters Road area where there are 15 homes and three cottages.

"We are working with our municipal partners to provide these people with the predictability they need," said Ashton."Also, the federal government is an important partner with which we will continue to work co-operatively on a funding plan."