Work has commenced on the Willing Park detention pond, the final piece of the puzzle in the City of Langford’s stormwater management plan for South Langford.
Langford awarded a contract for about $1.1 million for the work to Western Watershed Designs, Inc. at the regular meeting of council on Feb. 16.
Willing Park is located off Happy Valley Road near Langford’s border with Metchosin, adjacent to the Valley View Estates residential development.
The city constructed a sediment pond last summer to enable the contractor to dewater the site during construction of the new detention pond. Soil that is appropriate will be used for a playing field to be located nearby. The work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2015.
Langford obtained a Flood Protection Plan grant in 2013 for the Willing pond work, the last of the city’s five regional detention ponds in South Langford. The provincial and federal government will each provide one third of the funding for the new pond through a Canada Building Grant.
Victor Chen from Langford’s engineering department said the work is an important part of Langford’s flood solution plan.
“We’re also adding a trail around the pond in Willing Park,” Chen said.
Langford’s share will come from the Stormwater Development Cost Charge program funded by development.
The new pond will not address stormwater from new development, however. Subsequent developers will be required to meet the stipulations of the city’s land development and subdivision servicing bylaw and control stormwater on new sites, according to information posted on the city’s website.
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