Daylighting Sawmill River

[JET]

Keith, I'm guessing, but that might be water leaving the tail race, after being in the turbine chamber. "the stone-lined Tail Race which carried the water from
the stone Chamber returning it to the stream and subsequently the harbour."

[Colin May]

The fuel tanks at the Esso station were replaced a few months ago.
I see Trudeau II is going into the 2015 election with a massive infrastructure plan. It reminds of the Sportsplex expansion 20 years ago when the project became embroiled in shenanigans at the board where certain Liberals wanted ' a glove room' and other hockey related projects in their pursuit of a QJMHL team. The actual expansion was funded through infrastructure money and included what was called a 'wellness' centre, which included the large room which is primarily a bingo hall where smoking was allowed for many years.
Infrastructure projects take on a life of their own and any attempt by a council to make a list of preferred projects is quickly ditched when the horsetrading commences.
Daylighting will be an expensive project and justifying the expense as opposed to other projects will be very difficult. I expect the proposed upgrading of the Sportsplex will trump many other proposals. And then there is 'The Stadium'................

[DartmouthKate]

There was a good turn out at the Community Council meeting last night, and the upshot is that a staff report with more detail about feasibility, cost etc. The four councillors (Darren Fisher was present as he is at a Mayors' Conference in Newfoundland) expressed support in principle, but made it clear that cost is an important factor in whether it will go forward. There was some talk around leveraging money from other sources, and that's something that will be explored further.

http://www.hellodartmouth.ca/dayligh...e-step-closer/

[OldDartmouthMark]

Thanks for the update!

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by DartmouthKate

There was a good turn out at the Community Council meeting last night, and the upshot is that a staff report with more detail about feasibility, cost etc. The four councillors (Darren Fisher was present as he is at a Mayors' Conference in Newfoundland) expressed support in principle, but made it clear that cost is an important factor in whether it will go forward. There was some talk around leveraging money from other sources, and that's something that will be explored further.

http://www.hellodartmouth.ca/dayligh...e-step-closer/

Mr Fisher is no longer the Deputy mayor so why was he in Newforundland ?
He failed to attend the October 2nd regular meeting of Harbour East Community Council, no reason was given for his absence.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Mr Fisher is no longer the Deputy mayor so why was he in Newforundland ?
He failed to attend the October 2nd regular meeting of Harbour East Community Council, no reason was given for his absence.

I believe his term ended Wednesday. Heard Karstin say in reference to Nicol about being deputy mayor in 6 hours. So if he still had the job, I would assume that was why he went to NFLD.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by spaustin

I believe his term ended Wednesday. Heard Karstin say in reference to Nicol about being deputy mayor in 6 hours. So if he still had the job, I would assume that was why he went to NFLD.

Thanks. A last minute freebie. Couldn't have been important if Mayor Savage stayed in Halifax. It would have been more appropriate to send Councillor Nicoll as the incoming Deputy mayor and she would have had an opportunity to meet with people she may meet throughout the next 12 months.
Next month is the HEMDCC Annual General Meeting and they have to listen to the voters. More people should get out and tell their employees what they believe are the priorities of the community. The meeting is for residents within the boundaries of HEMDCC. Spread the word.

[OldDartmouthMark]

From the Herald:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion...t-water-course

[OldDartmouthMark]

With the tremendous amount of rain we've had in the past couple of days, has there been any flooding in this area?

Just curious, as there is a lot of flooding in other areas such as the Sackville River through Bedford, where parts of Fish Hatchery Park and the Superstore/Bedford Place Mall parking lots are submerged, etc.

With all the runoff issues discussed in this thread I would think that this area should be experiencing similar flooding conditions.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1...ing-in-bedford

Police issue warnings about flooding in Bedford

Published December 11, 2014 - 9:16pm
Last Updated December 11, 2014 - 9:19pm

Police warned the public Thursday night about rushing water and flooding in Bedford.

People were asked to use caution and avoid areas, if at all possible, along the Sackville River in Bedford, including Fish Hatchery Park, Union Street and Moirs Mill, Halifax Regional Police said in a news release.

An area of Fish Hatchery Park, including the bandstand and parts of the walkway, were submerged. A police officer was at the scene to enforce restricted access.

“We’re asking people to avoid the areas of Fish Hatchery Park and Moirs Mill, and particularly to stay away from the riverbank to ensure they are not swept into the rushing water,” the release said.

Flooding on Union Street was affecting the parking lots of Bedford Place Mall and the Superstore.

Some photos at:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...pour-1.2869262

[JET]

I expect that things are relatively dry in the DDT. The pipe system from Sullivans pond can handle a lot of water as can the part of the 'canal' that is daylighted. The lock between lake Banook and Sullivan's pond can raise Banook quite a bit without overpowering Sullivan's pond. Banook has not been that high, if it was that might be a different story.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

I expect that things are relatively dry in the DDT. The pipe system from Sullivans pond can handle a lot of water as can the part of the 'canal' that is daylighted. The lock between lake Banook and Sullivan's pond can raise Banook quite a bit without overpowering Sullivan's pond. Banook has not been that high, if it was that might be a different story.

Thanks. So it sounds like they can use the lock between Banook and Sullivan's to regulate the flow to the pipe outlet, using Banook as a collection point until the runoff has subsided?

[JET]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Thanks. So it sounds like they can use the lock between Banook and Sullivan's to regulate the flow to the pipe outlet, using Banook as a collection point until the runoff has subsided?

The lock has a mechanism that moves up and down, it was used when they had to lower Banook in 2009 to install sewer pipes. As a result of that lowering there is now a lot of grass in Banook. There would be an upper limit for lake level, and then some water would probably go around the lock on the North side. Apparently they can lower the lake level if heavy rain is expected:
https://www.halifax.ca/commcoun/hecc...MicMac_000.pdf

[OldDartmouthMark]

Thanks for that. Very interesting.

[JET]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion...lighting-river
article includes a photo of Sullivan's pond overflowing it's banks.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Thanks for that, interesting article. I hadn't considered the potential negotiation for use of private property for this project. I hope it can be worked out.

Neat to see that photo. Coincidentally, my family and I had gone on vacation when Hurricane Beth hit, so I only got to see the aftermath when we returned. I do remember the massive rainfall on our way to Maine, though.

[halifaxboyns]

I haven't been following this in great detail - but the article is quite interesting. My only concern about actually doing this is the impact on potential properties along the river course. Would HRM not have to expropriate property to do this? What are the costs?

I suspect that even if there was a cost, the property would likely grow in value because of proximity to a watercourse but I don't know if these issues have been discussed and they were the first questions that came to my mind?

[JET]

There are very few properties adjacent to the area that would be daylighted (unless they try to take it all the way to 'The stone bridge' which would impact the Esso. There is also a plan to involve eliminating the last block of Pine Street Extension (Irishtown Road) just before Prince Albert, and putting in a footbridge over the 'canal'. I expect that any of these improvements would positively affect building assessments, although it might be seen by some as a negative impact on access/traffic.

[Keith P.]

I was looking at the area over the holidays and it is such a mess that it would be hard to make it any worse. The Starr park is a joke and the area by Irishtown Road looks like it would make a good location for a crime movie. Blow it all up.

[JET]

Another article by Schneidereit about daylighting:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion...nefit-wildlife

[spaustin]

I have done a follow-up on this. Recent site plan that came out in December for the Greenway is a big step back from what was originally envisioned and not just on daylighting. Problematic to be making these kind of choices without any kind of process to consult the people who are actually going to use the space.

http://spacing.ca/atlantic/2015/01/2...anal-greenway/