The Town of Drumheller is looking for volunteers from the community to participate in a Community Advisory Committee to learn more about the Flood Mitigation Project.
On Thursday, August 5, the Drumhelleralert Facebook page announced they were looking for community members to serve a one-year term. According to the Town of Drumheller website, the purpose of the Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee is to work with the Flood Mitigation Office to learn and understand the reasons for the Flood Mitigation Program and the scope of the project to guide engagement with the public, and to connect with the community affected by the Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Program, and report back to the Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office on the concerns of the community.
CAO Darryl Drohomerski says an advisory committee has always been part of the original plan.
“The idea is to educate people so they could inform the public as well,” he said. “And we will also be getting some good feedback.”
In the terms of reference, members of the committee will receive an orientation for a clear overview of the project and will conduct engagement in the form of interviews, investigations, surveys, and meetings, and report monthly to summarizing the perspectives and concerns of the community about the flood resiliency program.
Resident Wayne Powell has been vocal about the flood mitigation project and formed the group called Drumheller Care 4 Nature shortly after the project at Riverside Drive and 5 Street East, commonly known as Schumacher’s Corner, began.
“That was what inspired me, that is what got me going,” he said. “It touched a lot of people to their core. I just wanted to be part of a positive group that makes sure we look after all the creatures and nature around that project. I did quite a lot of research and talked to the project people quite a bit to find out what is happening. The data was pretty skinny. There was a lot of data on building the berms and the need for the berms, but I never saw in the process how are we going to make sure to take care of the birds and the wildlife.”
He said better communication would have helped.
“What I thought was missing was a good outward-facing communication channel that kept people in the loop,” Powell said. “I think no one was getting enough information.”
He wants to learn more about the advisory committee and possibly get involved.
“It sounded like a good idea… It sounds like a two-way channel, and I think it is important it is a two-way channel, but I am not quite clear on what this advisory panel would do. If people could write back their concerns, as opposed to just disseminate information,” he said.
Powell says there are several interest groups in the valley that have different concerns about the project.
“There is some common ground there, and there is some ground that will never be common. We have to work together,” he said. “I really wanted to make sure the birds and the trees and nature gets a fair shake.”
He hopes a solution can be found.
“I am going to look into this advisory committee a bit more and if it looks to me they have terms of reference where it could make a difference, not just something just to shut people up, I don’t think that is fair. I don’t want to shut people up. I want them to open up, I want us all to be a ‘we’ in this thing,” he said.
Those wishing to apply for the Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee can go to floodreadiness.drumheller.ca to learn more.
