It’s Chatham-Kent’s billion dollar problem.
To fix Chatham-Kent’s flooding and erosion problems and keep everything status quo it’s estimated that it would cost near a billion dollars. Obviously it’s not a bill that Chatham-Kent can pay for, so officials will have to come up with other solutions to help keep buildings and property safe and dry.
Chatham-Kent council received an update on the municipality’s flooding and erosion problems, which have occurred not only along Lake Erie, but also in Wallaceburg, Mitchell’s Bay and Chatham.
Thomas Kelly, Chatham-Kent’s general manager of infrastructure and engineering, says it’s not only a Chatham-Kent problem but also an issue in areas across Ontario.
Kelly said this is an expensive issue for Chatham-Kent to deal with.
Terra Cadeau of the Erie Shore Drive Property Owners Association spoke to council about the issue and suggested that residents can have a collaborative conversation with Chatham-Kent to come up with some solutions to erosion and flooding along Lake Erie that are not done to the detriment of homeowners along the lake. She says property owners and Chatham-Kent should work together for short-term and long-term solutions, as well as share the financial burden to fix the problem.
Cadeau says lakeshore property owners are the ones who are holding the water back as best as they can on the front-line.
The number of flooding and erosion events in C-K are increasing in magnitude and frequency, there were 47 flood watches/warnings issued in Chatham-Kent to date in 2019. The flooding has had a major impact to residential homes, businesses and existing infrastructure.
Thomas Kelly says a one-size-fits all approach no longer exists, as Chatham-Kent has to learn from the past and re-think what they’ve done.
