In order to protect the site of a new development, crews have begun constructing a debris catchment net in Britannia Beach.
The Britannia Beach Community Association posted the notice of construction on Facebook on Aug. 9.
Crews hired by Macdonald Development have begun constructing the net in order to protect the area where a residential-commercial development will be built.
As the area has been known to flood, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District required that the company install nets to catch debris should such an event occur.
It’s expected that once Britannia Beach Oceanfront Development Corporation — the subsidiary of Macdonald responsible for this project — finishes building the structure, ownership of the Geobrugg net will be handed over to the SLRD.
The company hired Kerr Wood Leidal to design the flood mitigation and debris catchment works.
If all goes as planned, this would consist of a ‘Geobrugg’ debris net above the Copper Drive bridge; flood mitigation structures on the Britannia Creek fan; and building design measures in the redevelopment area of Britannia Beach.
Macdonald Development project lead Bill Baker said that the net will stay above water and are intended to catch floating debris, such as trees, in the event of a flooding incident.
The regional district board has been deliberating on how costs for the structures’ regular maintenance and disaster reserve fund will be covered.
In their July board meeting, SLRD directors have asked costs to be split 80-20, with the majority of annual maintenance costs being paid for by Macdonald or the residents that move into the company’s development.
The rest would be paid for by residents who already live in Britannia.
SLRD board members decided that every year $18,000 would be contributed to the disaster fund and and additional $14,100 would go to annual maintenance.
The reserve fund would cover the cost for replacing the flood protection structures, as well as the price of cleanup, should a flood occur.
Damage for what the regional district considers a one-in-50-year flood would cost about $425,000, the SLRD estimates.
The SLRD has recommended that Macdonald consider putting in a $285,000 deposit as insurance in case a flood occurs before enough tax dollars have been collected to pay the costs of a natural disaster.
Macdonald has agreed to put down the money.
***Please note this story has been updated as new information has become available.
ADDS:
-The debris nets will stay above water.
-Macdonald has agreed to put down the $285,000 deposit.
