The province is handing out more than $19 million to communities around BC, to help them prevent natural disasters and adapt to climate change.
In the Campbell River region, the Homalco First Nation will receive $1.5 million to restore wetlands in the Willow Creek watershed and install a culvert to mitigate flooding risks. They will use natural solutions, including rain gardens, and will protect wildlife and improve local infrastructure.
The funding will cover design work, a public education project, and the physical improvements.
There is also funding for the Strathcona Regional district to do a slope assessment along the Gold River Road, flood mitigation on Cortes Island, and tsunami preparation and education in all regional communities.
On the North Island, the Mount Waddington Regional District, area First Nations, and the Strathcona Regional District will share more than $350,000 to do tsunami preparation and education. Port McNeill will also use some of that funding to do a climate change infrastructure impact assessment.
The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation will also receive more than $77,000 for climate adaptation planning.
The money comes through the provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. It’s administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province.
Trish Mandewo, UBCM president, says the funding will help local governments prepare their communities to withstand emergencies.
