At a news conference held this afternoon, Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason announced that the service date for the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir will be pushed back at least one year, citing land acquisition and regulatory hurdles. In order to ensure land negotiations proceed productively and efficiently, the government has assembled a new legal team.

 

Now, rather than being fully operational in spring 2021, the revised timeline sees the Project partially operational (1 in 100 event) for the 2022 flood season and fully operational (2013 flood event) for the 2023 flood season. 

 

The new timeline represents a 10-month delay from previous project expectations and means Calgary will not be protected from a 2013-magnitude flood until a full 10 years after our downtown, residential communities and city infrastructure were decimated by ravaging flood water.

Read the full May 18, 2018 media release: Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir update.

 

The good news is that Minister Mason has assured us that, despite delays, the government’s commitment to the project has not waivered.

While we are disappointed in this news, we are not surprised. Given the various delays the Springbank project has encountered over the past couple years, we are no stranger to these delays.  However – we cannot become complacent.  This country needs to do a better job putting critical infrastructure in place for public safety, property preservation and economic sustainability and this project hits all three.  

We must continue our strong support for this project. Do not forget to write to the CEAA and to attend next week’s open houses to have your voice heard.

 

 

• Read more: Mason: Regulatory process is underway, Alberta Transportation is analyzing Springbank Project timeline

 

Regards,

 

Your CRCAG Board