Quesnel, B.C.
The City of Quesnel has received more than $3.14 million from the Building Canada Program to go towards a full-scale dewatering program for the West Quesnel Land Stability Program. The City will be responsible for providing $1.57 million as its share of the project funding. The news was announced yesterday afternoon by the federal and provincial governments.
"This is a positive step for the West Quesnel Land Stability Program," said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. "We are happy that the province and now the federal governments have offered to partner with us as we continue to work towards a lasting solution to this issue. I especially thank our MP Dick Harris, who was a strong advocate for this project in Ottawa."
The City applied to the Building Canada Program for $11.9 million in March 2009. The funding announced yesterday will allow the City to approach the project in a phased manner. The City will begin work immediately on designing the first phase so as to maximize the grant funding. Once that work plan has been developed, the City will release further details.
"We'll take this funding and determine the absolute best way to use it to ensure that we can begin implementing a de-watering program," added West Quesnel Land Stability Advisory Chair Coun. Mike Cave. "This announcement is encouraging, especially for the more than 2,000 residents who call the land stability study area home."
The City of Quesnel has spent more than $1.6 million on the West Quesnel Land Stability Program. The provincial government has also invested $1.2 million to date. The area affected by the ground movement is an attractive, established residential community that includes about 940 parcels of land, 750 homes, several businesses and one elementary school.