‘About time’: Sussex, N.B., residents relieved flood plan will proceed

A flood-diversion project got the green light in Sussex, N.B.

It’s been a long time coming for residents and municipal leaders of Sussex and the surrounding area.

Last week, the town was given approval by the federal government to proceed with a flood diversion project.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) announced a review of the Sussex Region Flood Diversion Project was complete and determined any potential negative impacts would be limited or addressed, so the town is free to start permits and other paperwork.

“About time. We should have had it a long time ago,” said Sussex resident Susan Black. “Our homes are getting destroyed. Over on Holman Avenue, Stewart Avenue, Maple Avenue, it was the worst it has ever been in the last couple of years. We’re tired of re-doing basements.”

On Feb. 29, 2024 the region received up to 200 millimetres of rain overnight causing major flooding, road closures and forcing some residents from their homes.

Severe weather events in the area have caused millions in damages over the past decade.

Late last year, the town proposed the construction and operation of a new, permanent flood control management system and submitted documents to the IAAC.

The project involves the construction of two new flood diversion channels that will divert flood waters from Trout Creek and Parsons Brook to the Kennebecasis River during flood events.

Town of Sussex CAO, Jason Thorne, said Ottawa’s approval of the $38-million project is very significant news for the flood mitigation project.

“There will be no federal comments or inputs required in the environmental assessment process going forward for this project,” said Thorne. “So what that means is a shortening of the timeline by as much as three years and cutting the cost of this overall project down by as much as $250,000.”

The project is being funded by the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Thorne said the intent is to divert flood waters around the community rather than the traditional path through the downtown core.

“Mitigating upwards of $60 million in damages per flood event,” said Thorne.

Julie Duplessie’s family is relatively new to Sussex, but she said it’s great news for the town.

“A lot of people have had a hard time over the years that we’ve heard,” said Duplessie. “We are newer to the community in the last few years, but I know I’ve heard a lot of stories and problems that people have had so I think it’s a really good thing for the town.”

Georgina Dickens Moore said the town’s plan should help all residents in the area.

“Cut down on all of the damage that they’ve had,” said Dickens Moore. “A lot of basements being ruined. Insurance. A lot of houses maybe don’t have insurance. The diversion plan is very good.”

Thorne said the project is actually several smaller projects rolled into one and the first stage, a berm construction in Ward 2 of the community, is already underway.

“Which will protect upwards of 40 homes from future flooding events. The project window for that is actually over the course of this summer heading into fall and that work is underway right now,” said Thorne.

Thorne said the hope is the project will be wrapped up heading into 2028.

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