Funding has been announced to control erosion along Athabasca River

The governments of Canada and Alberta and the Town of Whitecourt are committed to making smart investments in public infrastructure that protect Canadians and mitigate the potential damage from natural events like erosion and flooding, to build the safe communities we want for our children, grand-children and great-grand-children.

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Her Worship Maryann Chichak, Mayor of Whitecourt, have announced funding to control erosion along the south bank of the Athabasca River in the Town of Whitecourt.

Over 11 acres of land were lost to erosion along this stretch of the Athabasca River between 2006 and 2014, through both the ongoing wearing away of the river bank and during recent flooding events. Erosion control infrastructure will be constructed and repaired as part of this project to direct the river current away from the south bank. This will prevent further encroachment of the river and protect public and private property along the developed bank, including trails and parkland, decommissioned municipal sewer lagoons, and the Millar Western Pulp Mill, which employs hundreds of local residents.

“Effective disaster mitigation projects reduce the vulnerability of our communities and our public infrastructure to the negative impacts of extreme natural events. Erosion control measures along the Athabasca River in Whitecourt will help the Town protect its residents and its land. This project and others like it are part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to build safer and more resilient communities, which is critical for attracting economic opportunities for the middle class and those trying to join it,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

The Government of Canada will contribute up to $1,839,888 toward this project through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects, with the Province of Alberta, the Town of Whitecourt and private partners covering the remainder of the estimated $6 million project.