Moncton flood victim calls on city council to solve problem

A Moncton man, whose home sustained almost $100,000 in damage from flooding last December, plans to make a presentation to city council tonight in hopes of getting the root cause fixed.

Daniel Richards contends the flooding is a result of overdevelopment in the city's north end, and culverts that are too small.

"We, of course, will have anxiety when we have spring runoff and then, of course, during hurricane season next fall. And then, the following spring runoff," said Richards, who lives on Bishop Street, near Jonathan Creek, in the Jones Lake area.

"It's not a fun situation to have to have that pressure over you and that anxiety. We just want to make a voice because other people aren't making a voice, but I know there are many who are concerned," he said.

The city has committed to fixing the culverts starting this spring, with hopes the work will be done by 2017.

But Richards says the problem went unaddressed for so long, he won't be satisfied until it's fixed.

He says his house was inspected by city engineers and had the most up-to-date back flow valves and all the other safety precautions recommended by the city.

But he says the back flow valve burst during torrential rain last December and he wound up with 30 centimetres of water in his basement.

Coun. Daniel Bourgeois has said the flooding in several neighbourhoods could have been prevented if the city had priorities other than the proposed $107-million downtown entertainment centre.