Moncton council votes to accept riverbank erosion costs

Moncton city council has voted unanimously to accept responsibility for 300 metres along the Petitcodiac Riverand cover any future costs due to erosion.

TheNew Brunswickgovernment hadrequested a signed indemnityfrom the city. Otherwise, it was going to start placing large rocks, known as rip-rap, along the riverbank next to Bore Parkas of midnight on Tuesday.

The provincial government is worried about erosion from the tidal bore destroying lands and infrastructure. It had offered $430,000 worth of rocks to stem the erosion.

But council hadrejected the offer, ignoring the provincial government, two engineering firms and its own own experts and deciding to let the river run free.

Council based its decisionon anengineer hired by the environmental group Riverkeeper, who said fears of erosion and high costs are exaggerated.

Now the city will have to pay for any damage or maintenance.

Those costs includedamage to the nearby walking trails and boardwalk. There could also be higher insurance costs and expenses totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect the archaeological sites that are appearing as the river continues to erode the banks.

The river has pushed the banks of Bore Park back 20 metres in the last two years. Engineers have warned if it erodes another two feet, the park's lookout could fall into the river.

The river has eroded much faster than predicted since the causeway gates were opened in April 2010.