Ottawa allots $76M to replace sea dams, upgrade other water infrastructure in Surrey and Delta B.C.

SURREY, B.C.—Aiming to reduce the risks of coastal flooding in the Vancouver area, the federal government has allocated $76 million from its Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to replace or upgrade infrastructure in Surrey and Delta, B.C.

The funding will pay for a series of coastal projects expected to reap long-term savings by preventing possible flooding in an area home to about 125,000 people.

“Investing today will reduce future recovery costs and prevent critical infrastructure failures,” said Carla Qualtrough, Canada’s minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility. “These investments create good, well-paying middle class jobs, and set the stage for long-term economic growth that benefits everyone.”

According to Surrey’s Mayor, Doug McCallum, about 20 per cent of the city’s land lies within vulnerable coastal floodplains.

Among the list of jobs to secure funding are replacement projects for the aging Nicomekl and Serpentine sea dams, upgrades to 7.5 kilometres of the Colebrook dyke and the installation of 1.5 kilometres of new storm sewers. Upgrades at a pair of pump stations and the construction of two new “living dykes” will also share the investment.