Darlings Island residents who were once again cut off by flood waters were hoping to hear when shovels will be in the ground to build up the road to their community at an information session last evening, but according to many, they did not get the answers they wanted to hear at what they thought was a public meeting.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Bill Fraser tells us they need to expropriate four or five properties and they already have a deal for one.
“Got deals closing very soon on the others, expect to finish the acquisition of the property that we will require before the fall after that the road construction would be next year,” says Fraser.
Meadow Drive resident Mary Scott was pretty upset with the public meeting.
“So that means that we will be in the same situation, in the spring of 2019 with the flood. Hopefully, not as bad as this last one was because this has been the worst,” says Scott.
Scott also thinks the Gallant government was somewhat embarrassed into calling in the Coast Guard to help out when they saw “Uber Rob” shuttling people back and forth to the main road.
Hampton MLA Gary Crossman was also not pleased with the meeting.
“People are going away frustrated because they are not getting any answers. I came myself to get answers on timelines, expectations for to move ahead so this doesn’t happen again next year as far as the flooding goes,” stated Crossman.
As for the Community Centre in the area, its fate has been sealed.
It will have to be torn down because of the height of the flood waters and excessive mould and mildew it caused.
