Article content continued

But the province pointed to a consultant’s report by Deltares, a Dutch research firm, that concluded the Springbank reservoir could be delivered on a shorter time frame, cost less, and would have less environmental impact than the McLean Creek dam.

The province is committing $264 million for the Springbank dry dam. Cost estimates for Bragg Creek mitigation were originally earmarked at $8.9 million, according to the February 2015 Springbank study.

But that cost has quadrupled to $33 million, confirmed Jason Penner, spokesman for Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

“The $9 million was an earlier estimate. But now we have more details of what will actually be required from an engineering standpoint and we are looking at a whole series of flood barriers,” Penner said.

“The cost increase is due to a combination of not just the size of the berming, but also the alignments, and making room for the possibilities of land acquisition.”

Bragg Creek resident Dick Koetsier, who owns six riverfront properties, said the province had already contacted him about Wednesday’s public open house. He and other riverfront property owners have been asked to meet privately about three hours before the public open house to discuss land acquisition issues.

“This has been such an emotional roller-coaster for this community. People are really frustrated,” Koetsier said.

“Our community has been sterilized since the flood. It is dying. Homes have been abandoned, no one is investing, the commercial side is a wasteland and the community is still at risk.