The Municipality of Grey Highlands is considering a plan that would see a new storm water management system built near the cemetery and golf course in Markdale.
At its meeting on Oct. 16, Grey Highlands council received a presentation about an ongoing Environmental Assessment (EA) process to fix a long-standing drainage issue in Markdale in the area of Lawler and Brackenbury Streets.
Project consultants and engineers from B.M Ross and Associates presented three options for the project for council to consider. Two options would solve the drainage issues in that area of town, while the other would be to do nothing.
Currently, that area of Markdale does not have a stormwater drainage system other than a pond area where stormwater collects during wet periods. At times, the pond overflows into the backyards of neighbouring property owners.
Grey Highlands is planning upgrades to the streets in that area of town and the municipality will also see significant future development in that part of Markdale on the other side of Grey County Road 12. With those pressures looming, last year the municipality initiated the EA process to study the drainage issues.
“The ponding area was never really designed appropriately,” consultant Kelly Vader explained to council.
Vader presented three options to council to consider:
- Keep the ponding area and construct a 900-millimetre storm outlet that would run along the rear of the homes on Lawler Street, across the local golf course, through a forested area in order to empty into the Rocky Saugeen River. The storm outlet would mostly be underground, although a portion in the forested area would be open.
- Eliminate the ponding area by filling it in and construct a 1.05-metre storm outlet that would run the same route to the river.
- Do nothing (the provincial EA process requires the municipality to consider this option as part of the study).
Vader said the consultants reccommend the second option as the preferred alternative for the problem.
The second option was identified as the best route based on a number of factors, including: under this scenario the ponding area could be filled in with old road base material from Lawler and Brackenbury Streets, this area could then be converted into two infill building lots that could be sold to the public to help pay for the project. It was also identified as a slightly less expensive option to pursue.
To proceed, the project would need provincial and conservation authority permits, an agreement between Grey Highlands and the golf course for an easement for the outlet and the municipality would have to acquire some land from neighbouring residents.
Members of council did not indicate any objections to the concept, although Coun. Joel Loughead expressed reservations and concerns about stormwater being diverted to the Rocky Saugeen River.
“I have a hard time swallowing anytime stormwater is dumped directly into a natural water course,” said Loughead.
In response, the consultants said the elimination of the ponding area (where storm-water collects and warms up) helped mitigate any thermal concerns about the water being directed into the Rocky Saugeen. In addition, the new stormwater collection system would include an oil and grit separating systems to prevent oils and road grit from reaching the river.
Council took no action on the matter, other than to receive the presentation and report from the consultants as information. The EA process for the project will continue and a public open house on the preferred option will be scheduled in the near future.
