Setback for residents hoping to rebuild in Fort McMurray's Waterways

It's been a difficult year for FortMcMurrayresident Shannon Rochelle. Flames chased her from herhome in May eventually burning itto the ground, forcing thefamily with two children to live in an RV.

But things aren't getting better, she said.

"The nightmare that has been occurring for us has been dealing with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo," Rochelle said.

• Flood-prone FortMcMurraycommunity still can't rebuild
• FortMcMurray'sWaterways subdivision given green light to rebuild

Residents of FortMcMurray'sWaterways communityare fuming afterthe cancellation of a meetingwhere they hoped the municipality would give them the green light to rebuild their homes destroyed in thewildfire.

A last minuteemailsaidthe meeting scheduled for Thursday night was postponed.

Residents were hoping to hear an update about reconstructionin the subdivision, which the province considers a flood zone.

May's wildfire ravaged most of the homes in the Fort McMurray subdivision, a mixture of mobile homes, trailers and multi-story structures.

Permittedto rebuild on floodplain

In October, after months of uncertainty aboutwhether they would be permitted torebuild on afloodplain, residents were told they could start applying for permits.

Eventually residents in the flood zone could rebuild as long as they signed waivers acknowledging they understood the risks,the municipality said.

Residents have been waiting to sign those waivers for two months. Theywere hoping to get more details about what was taking so long and hear more aboutalternativessuch asland swaps orbuyouts.

But the letterfrom the municipality saysthe buyout option mayno longer be on the table.

Residents said they were surprised about the suddencancellation of the meeting, and are upset some of theoptions to rebuilding mayhave been eliminated without consultation.

"The whole experience has left me really jaded with a bad taste in my mouth," Rochelle said.

"It's frustrating too it's like a constant let down. They say something is going to happen and then they turn you around the next minute and slap you in the face."

Buyouts ... not the municipality'sidea

Asked for more details about the cancellation of the meeting, the municipalityissued a press release late Thursday.

It said the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee will recommend themunicipality not buy out properties in the flood zone.

It didn't explain why purchasing propertieswereoff the table, but it did say buyoutswere originally not the municipality's ideaand it wanted to develop Waterways in a financially-sensible way.

"The resident-proposed buyout was initially brought forward by some residents it was not a proposal made by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo," the email said.

"(The recovery committee) is committed and focused on facilitating the rebuild of the Waterways community in a fair and equitable manner that is fiscally responsible and considerate of the needs of the majority of residents."

The committeewill also recommend to council next weekthat it should develop a "long-term flood-mitigation strategy."

The strategy aims to:

• Ensure residents in flood hazard areas are fully eligible for Disaster Recovery Program funding for future floods.
• Develop "encumbrances" or a waivers attached to residentsland titles saying they understand the risk.

The municipality said it's also reschedulingits meeting with residents toDec. 15.

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