Should Quispamsis be providing sandbags to residents when the spring freshet is forecast to reach emergency levels?
That question was debated last week as town council approved the purchase of around 12,000 pre-filled sandbags for $52,000 plus HST.
Council had a similar debate ahead of the spring freshet in 2020 and approved the purchase but ended up not having to buy any.
Coun. Sean Luck, who voted against the motion, said a letter they received from the province in 2020 indicated there is no provincial policy saying they have to provide sandbags.
But the same letter, according to Luck, flood-prone communities should invest in resources as is deemed “necessary and appropriate.”
“I guess that what becomes the important question here is what’s necessary and appropriate? Are sandbags necessary for the town to provide the homes that flood every year once they get a certain point?” said Luck.
Luck said there needs to be more clarification on what exactly the town’s responsibilities are.
Coun. Lisa Loughery agreed with the need for more clarification but voted in favour of providing sandbags, noting the short window of time before the spring freshet.
Fellow councillor Kirk Miller said the town should offer sandbags during emergency flooding, but not during a normal spring freshet.
“It’s one of these things where you always want to go help your neighbour but your neighbour’s gotta do a little bit to help themselves too,” said Miller.
The town set up a sandbag station at the qplex during the 2019 spring freshet, where town staff and volunteers filled the bags. But that is not possible this year due to the physical distancing requirements related to COVID-19.
Town CAO Susan Deuville said the sandbags will only be purchased if water levels in the Kennebecasis River are forecast to reach 4.7 metres and continue rising.
Monday’s five-day forecast from River Watch showed water levels falling over the next few days and reaching 2.7 metres by Saturday.
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