Renaturalizing and flood-protecting Toronto's Port Lands
TORONTO (CNW - Re-naturalizing and flood protecting the Port Lands is a key priority for the governments of Canada, Ontario and Toronto. Building resilient infrastructure in the Port Lands will increase Toronto's capacity to adapt to climate change impacts and unlock the potential for the Port Lands to be home to the healthy, prosperous complete communities of the future.
Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services Michael Coteau (on behalf of Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli), and Toronto Mayor John Tory joined Chief of the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation, Stacey R. Laforme, and CEO of Waterfront Toronto, Will Fleissig, to mark the start of construction on the Cherry Street Stormwater and Lakefilling project, part of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project.
In September 2016, the governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto announced $65 million in infrastructure funding under the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund for the Cherry Street Stormwater and Lakefilling project. This project is advancing as a component of the $1.25 billion Port Lands Flood Protection project.
The Cherry Street Stormwater and Lakefilling project is designed to optimize water and stormwater infrastructure by stabilizing the shoreline under flood conditions, enhancing aquatic habitat, and ultimately, forming part of the proposed Promontory Park. The project will also allow for the re-alignment of Cherry Street, which is necessary for accommodating roads and transit into the Port Lands as part of the economic revitalization of these lands.
The larger Port Lands Flood Protection project will provide critical flood protection through the creation of a naturalized mouth for the Don River and a new river valley, and remediate contaminated soil, unlocking new land for development. The flood protection project will enable the long-term transformation of the Port Lands into new sustainable communities, including parks, residential and commercial development. The long-term development of the Port Lands will support innovation, deliver affordable housing and jobs, allowing Toronto to grow sustainably, and to meet the challenges associated with this growth.
Moreover, creating a naturalized mouth for the Don River, and establishing new aquatic habitats and functional wetlands, will contribute to Toronto's environmental resiliency and help reconnect the city to its lake.
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