Community discusses flood zone at meeting

It's referred to as the flood zone, but the area along Blanche Brook in Stephenville was once a vibrant part of the community full of homes, gardens and families.

About 20 people gathered in Stephenville's council chambers last week for a public meeting organized by the town council and the Walk-A-Ways committee.

The meeting was held so the community could come together and discuss what it would like to see done with the town's flood zone area.

Since the properties consumed by the flood of 2005 were removed from this section of town a few years ago, not much has been done with the unoccupied space. It has been the topic of much public discussion.

Some of the ideas brought forward at last week's meeting included turning this part of town into walking trails, and perhaps also into a municipal park.

There was some initial hesitation from some concerned citizens about what putting a park there could mean. One concerned citizen said she still sees people go into the area and removed trees and flowers which once grew in the yards of residents.

"I will tell you that you can plan, but you have to have things where people can see things," she said.

Derek Lomond, chair of the Walk-A-Ways committee, said because of the area's current state, people seem to think it is a waste area.

"But I don't think it will be the same once it's a park," he commented.

Mayor Tom O'Brien agreed that putting certain things in the area could be a major concern, adding whatever is decided upon should require ease in maintenance.

Mr. Lomond agreed and added that the group can't avoid doing things because of a small group of citizens who might help themselves to whatever is put there.

Rotary president Dave Anstey suggested flagstones, which are large and possibly too heavy to remove.

"They could be paid for by local business. They're too heavy to steal and they can't be washed away," he added.

Former Walk-A-Ways trail committee chair Bob Diamond suggested that the Walk-A-Ways committee form a separate sub-committee to oversee a plan for the flood zone area.

Mayor O'Brien and others in attendance agreed this was a good idea.

"The key to the whole area, I think, will be the trail system in the area," said the mayor.

One thing that also agreed upon by several citizens in attendance was the need to attempt the project without the use of consultants, which they agreed is expensive and sometimes yields few results.

Several people in attendance joined the sub-committee of the Walk-A-Ways trail that will now work on a plan for the area.

The committee will meet again this Wednesday.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca