Town announces potential flooding solution

By Cecilia Nasmith

In response to both historical and recent flooding events along Midtown Creek upstream of the Canadian National Railway-Canadian Pacific Railway corridor, the Town of Cobourg is proposing to establish an On-Line Flood Ponding Area upstream of the Kerr Street right-of-way.

The Town of Cobourg press release said that the project would incorporate the Kerr Street extension from Division Street west to the railway spur to create upstream ponding during the creek's high-flow periods.

The town has planned this project under Schedule C of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process, the news release continued.

The Environmental Study Report has been completed and is now available for public review and comment. Subject to comments received as a result of this notice and the receipt of necessary approvals, the Town intends to complete the detailed work on the preferred design alternative and proceed to construction in 2019.

You can review the report on-line at www.cobourg.ca and any time during business hours (weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the public-works office in Building 7, 740 Division St. Written comments can be provided to the town within 30 calendar days of the Dec. 6 release of this notice, and should be directed to the Director of Public Works.

A person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks order a change in the project status and require a higher level of assessment under an individual Environmental Assessment process (referred to as a Part II Order). Reasons must be provided for the request, and copies of the request form must be sent to three parties – the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (77 Wellesley St. W., 11th Floor, Toronto M7A 2T5), the Director, Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (135 St. Clair Ave. W., First Floor, Toronto M4V 1P5), and Director of Public Works, Town of Cobourg, 740 Division St,, Building 7, Cobourg K9A 0H6).

The press release reminds everyone that all personal information included in a Part II Order submission (such as name, address, telephone number, property location) is collected, maintained and disclosed by the ministry for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act or is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public as described in s.37 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

“Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public, unless you request that your personal information remain confidential,” the press release said.

For more information, you can contact the ministry's Freedom of Information and Privacy Co-ordinator at (416) 327-1434.