Future development to be banned in floodways
Posted Jul 14, 2013 1:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The province is taking bold action to prevent future flood events.
The government will ban future development in floodways (red areas), which are the areas hardest hit by June’s floods.
Legislative changes will be made this fall that will require municipalities to no longer approve future developments in these high risk areas.
Damaged homes in floodways can be rebuilt, but homeowners must take on future risk.
As well, the province will not pay for damages from future floods on rebuilt homes in floodways.
Residents can also accept funding to relocate.
In areas called flood fringe zones (pink areas), homes must do major flood-proofing if they are to be covered in the future.
There are no numbers yet on how many people or homes would fall under either of the two categories.
Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths announced the measures Sunday afternoon as part of the province’s flood mitigation strategy.
Last week, he said it doesn’t make sense for people to rebuild in areas hit by damaging floods every few years, and have the government pick up the extensive cost of repairs.
