The risk of high water has passed for the time being, but the City of New Westminster is working on plans to fend off future flood risks.
The city has received $750,000 in provincial emergency preparedness funding for the reconstruction of the Boundary Road drainage pump station in Queensborough. Built in 1970, the city says the pump station has reached the end of its service life.
“Ensuring our community is well prepared for emergencies is a high priority for us,” Mayor Jonathan Cote said in a press release. “We really appreciate the opportunity to partner with the province and UBCM to allow us to better prepare for and mitigate potential floods.”
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities release about $9.5 million in funding to help vulnerable communities throughout B.C. prepare for disasters. The funding is part of the province’s $33.5-million plan to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters.
In addition to improvements to the pump station, the city says the project includes raising and densification of the adjacent dike in order to meet provincial guidelines.
“The Boundary pump station is a key component of the city’s diking and drainage system,” said Jim Lowrie, the city’s director of engineering. “Its reconstruction will enhance our ability to provide flood protection in the Queensborough community.”
Lowrie said the maximum allowable grant under the structural flood mitigation program is $750,000, so the city will also be contributing funds to the pump station replacement, which is expected to cost about $6.2 million. He said the project is currently in the design stage, with construction expected to begin in mid-2019 and commissioning taking place in 2020.
