Industry to Present Position to Emergency Operations Committee

By 250 News

Red line shows  gabion diking,  broken red/yellow line shows raised River Road, solid yellow line is  where industry wants  permanent  dike built 

Prince George, B.C. – It is the building of the temporary raising of River Road which has   industry  in that area upset.  The height difference between their facilities and the top of the road is at least  a metre, and in some cases more than 2 metres.

(photo at right shows difference in height of road and  front yard of home near Foley Crescent)

The businesses now refer to the   raised road as a “six foot mud wall” that  puts  jobs and  business viability  at risk.  Winton Global President John Elmslie says he appreciates there is  the "greater good" to protect, but..."We're just looking for an opportunity to be  considered part of the solution, to consult and  make sure that  we're not unnecessarily  sacrificed  as a result of the actions the City has taken for the greater good."

In Elmslie's case his office building is now between the 2 metre high road and the river.

 The businesses want the berm  or  dike,  built on the south bank of the Nechako between their businesses and the river.  

The Nechako River Industry Group  is presenting its position to the  Emergency Operations Committee today.

The Emergency Operations Committee for Prince George says the raising of River Road is “temporary”.  The dollars for the hauling of the gravel and construction of the temporary “raised road” have been provided by the Provincial Emergency Program.  

During the Premier’s visit on Sunday, Opinion 250 asked the Premier who would be paying to have the temporary road removed.   The Premier  wouldn’t give details “The funding for this, the City and Province are working very closely together.  I think we’ve put in $3 million dollars so far (total flood mitigation)  We have a hundred million dollar program in place to try and protect communities from some of these environmental challenges we face as a result of global warming and the pine beetle.  We are going to work in partnership with the City on that.”  So when pressed if that meant the Province would be picking up the tab, the Premier reiterated “We’re going to work in partnership with the City on that.”

It is known the City has applied for funding to permanently raise River Road.   There are some who are now asking  if perhaps the City is taking advantage of the crisis and had PEP pay for the gravel and hauling of it to a site where it will, eventually,  be needed .    

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