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LETTER: City missing the boat on minimizing flood risk

Citizen says city's decision to build sewage pumping station on reclaimed land on flood plain is 'short-sighted'
Flooding
File photo

OrilliaMatters received the following letter from Tom Griffiths, who is concerned the city isn't doing enough to mitigate the risk of flooding.
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As widespread flooding damages personal property once again in Ontario it must be emphasized the role that municipalities have to minimize it, or not.  

The City of Orillia recently approved a sewage pumping station on reclaimed land on the flood plain very close to Lake Couchiching. How short-sighted is that?    

Unfortunately, Lake Couchiching is not within the jurisdiction of any Conservation Authority. The city could not get away with doing this on a flood plain near Lake Simcoe as the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) would certainly not permit it.  

It is also worth noting that the city of Orillia is the only municipality in the Lake Simcoe watershed that does not belong to the LSRCA.  

Very telling!

Tom Griffiths
Orillia

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