Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

‘Absolutely necessary’ Alberta buys more land for flood mitigation project

Jan 30, 2019 | 6:51 AM

CALGARY – The Notley government has now acquired one fifth of the land it needs for a controversial reservoir west of Calgary that would help protect the city from another massive flood.

Transportation Minister Brian Mason says the province bought another two square kilometres of land from the Robinson family, which has a cattle ranch in the Springbank area.

Mason declined to say how much was spent on the purchase, or how much money has been set aside for the remaining land needed for the $432-million project.

He says it’s unfortunate that ranching families with deep roots in the area have to leave, but there’s no alternative to protect Calgary from a repeat of the 2013 deluge.