MOOSE JAW — City hall estimates that it will cost $16 million to replace infrastructure within the Spring Creek system, so it’s hoping a federal grant can cover three-quarters of that cost.
During its May 12 regular meeting, city council voted unanimously to authorize city administration’s application to the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund’s (CHIF) provincial funding stream for the Spring Creek stormwater management project.
The projected capital cost is $16,063,250, with CHIF’s provincial stream potential providing $11,726,173 — or 73 per cent — leaving the municipality to provide $4,337,078.
The city must apply by Tuesday, May 20, while CHIF will award the money by late June.
The project focuses on the original Spring Creek alignment (OSCA), a critical stormwater management system that spans 2.2 kilometres from the Spring Creek diversion dike to the Moose Jaw River, a council report said.
The OSCA includes channels, culverts and stormwater pipes that manage water flow through the city, while the project involves planning and capital works projects between 2026 and 2032.
The report pointed out that improving this infrastructure would reduce the risk of flooding and protect homes and businesses, while better stormwater management can lead to cleaner waterways and healthier ecosystems.
“Modernizing infrastructure will ensure the stormwater system can handle future demands, providing reliable service as Moose Jaw grows,” the document said, noting that contractor ISL finished part 2 of its evaluation of the Spring Creek project last year and provided recommendations for enhancements, which will guide the application process.
The CHIF program’s goal is to accelerate the construction and upgrading of housing-related infrastructure, such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste, the report continued. This application supports the creation of new homes and increases densification.
For CHIF’s provincial stream to consider the application, the city must meet the same housing requirement as the federal stream, specifically, the municipality must adopt zoning changes to allow the construction of four-unit dwellings “as of right,” the document said.
Administration added that it could meet other requirements that Ottawa wants, including not starting construction until environmental assessments or consultations with Aboriginal People occur, completing the project before Oct. 31, 2033, and reporting on climate resilience and adaptation measures.
Coun. Dawn Luhning said that, to her, the “most important line” in the report was that the project was estimated to cost $16 million and was eligible for CHIF funding, which meant Moose Jaw could receive roughly $11.7 million — or 73 per cent of project costs.
Coun. Chris Warren pointed out that Spring Creek is part of the city’s larger stormwater utility system, which has a big need for upgrades and replacements. If the municipality acquires this money, he added, that means money won’t have to come from taxpayers or the city’s coffers.
Mayor James Murdock said Spring Creek “is very important” and ranks “right up there” in importance, which means the city must start working on it soon, especially after city administration showed council pictures of the system’s collapsing infrastructure.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 26.
