The Town of Innisfil applied for funding under the National Disaster Mitigation Program, for its planned Belle Aire Creek Diversion and Wetland Improvement project.
The project, approved in the 2021/2022 budget, will finally provide relief to up to 100 homes within or adjacent to the Belle Aire Creek floodplain, by diverting floodwater and using natural wetlands to provide mitigation.
In applying for the NDMP grant, the town needed to ensure that the detailed design of the project would be completed by March 31, 2022 – which meant an accelerated schedule, to complete the necessary environmental studies.
An Environmental Assessment had been conducted years ago, but according to the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, needed to be updated and expanded to include the new proposed works.
To meet the critical timelines, a “non-standard” procurement process was undertaken; instead of going to tender for the studies, staff approached the original consultant and two other consulting firms for quotes and awarded the project to the lowest quote.
Staff only learned on May 3 that the grant application was not successful. The town has decided to hold to the accelerated timeframe, in order to ensure flood mitigation for Innisfil residents, in a timely fashion.
Birks Natural Heritage has been retained to complete the studies this summer, to provide a Natural Heritage Evaluation, Provincially Significant Wetland Restoration Plan, Belle Aire Creek Restoration Plan, restoration monitoring, and a feature-based water balance, at a total cost of $64,495.48 (including HST).
Provisional work was also identified, that could include Species At Risk permitting, Department of Fisheries and Oceans permitting and reporting, and a tree inventory, at an additional cost of $38,177.60.
By expediting the process and undertaking the work this season, the design can be completed by the original 2022 deadline, council was told on Wednesday night.
Councillors voted to receive the information, although Coun. Bill Van Berkel noted, “I’m disappointed that we weren’t successful in the grant.”
