Discussions

Does anyone know if this is happening? This would be great, rivers and lakes are a natural draw, always said we should do something similar to the Forks here in Brandon, could be a good start......Looking forward to seeing the development.  
 
https://youtu.be/uiklafkx8X8

It s happening. They are building the amphitheatre as we speak along with the bbq/picnic/cook shacks.

the comparisons being made between the forks in Winnipeg and river development in Brandon usually fail to mention the MOST important fact.  
 
the forks has duff's ditch and the portage diversion protecting it from rampant flooding and the damage it causes to that infrastructure.  
 
exactly how are we going to protect any construction on our riverbank with the flooding here.  
 
just once I would like someone onboard with this development to explain that to me

point me in the direction of the engineering and planning that has gone into water diversion to ensure that the tax dollars that are spent for this beautification project are not going to be squandered every spring when this corridor floods and damages infrastructure. It looks beautiful but are we funding jobs on a yearly basis to fix all the damage mother nature inflicts when she tries to take back the flood plain around the river or do they have a long term sustainable plan?

Says it all on how much it will cost.  

Jessica08 said "Says it all on how much it will cost.   "

I laughed steady for 2:04. Thanks for that!

belzebob said "the comparisons being made between the forks in Winnipeg and river development in Brandon usually fail to mention the MOST important fact.     the forks has duff's ditch and the portage diversion protecting it from rampant flooding and the damage it causes to that infrastructure.     exactly how are we going to protect any construction on our riverbank with the flooding here.     just once I would like someone onboard with this development to explain that to me "

They've said the amphitheater will be built above the 1in300 year flood mark.

Dan Forsythe said "point me in the direction of the engineering and planning that has gone into water diversion to ensure that the tax dollars that are spent for this beautification project are not going to be squandered every spring when this corridor floods and damages infrastructure. It looks beautiful but are we funding jobs on a yearly basis to fix all the damage mother nature inflicts when she tries to take back the flood plain around the river or do they have a long term sustainable plan? "

I wonder this too. It's one thing to have the amphitheatre above flood level but what will the cost be to replace/repair everything else in the path of flood water every spring and where will the funds for that come from?  
 
I was satisfied with the way it was down at Riverbank this summer and will continue to enjoy it this winter. I don't need the festival feel to enjoy the outdoors & greenspace.

that city council is willing to spend all the money when this is clearly within the dykes, and housing, outside the dyke, is considered flood plain, please explain. What do we spend all the money on the dyke for???

till there is an event with 3000 people.  
Parking?  
Traffic control? (that whole area by Corral Centre is horrible)  
Washrooms?  
Another "high water event" is inevitable, I guess we wait and see. In my opinion, this was not the space to build an amphitheater.

My only guess is that the council and powers that be figure we are moving toward a semi aquatic life and want to accelerate the evolution process.  
 
We already have soccer fields underwater half the time so lets add to the list. My feet are getting partially webbed already.  
 
The smart money would use some of the millions allocated to this project to either protect or move things already in the flood plain instead of building more.

It looks so easy to have us watching this video when fancy crap jumps out of the ground up like popcorn, that many of us can get caught up in this unrealistic dream. More flub than hub. Loved how the trees are placed on the dyke. *sarcasm* From what I understand, that's a big no-no. Trees should not be planted on or near the levee embankment because they can interfere or compromise the earth structure and it can be incredibly dumb to have trees on top blocking any access for vehicles or additional dirt/fill during a flooding crisis. It appears the whoever derived this video doesn't know or care how our river corridor functions or it should function. "Let's make it pretty" seems to be only motivation plot in the presentation. And the spinning... I don't know if it was only meant for providing a 360' view or just to disorient the viewer on where everything is positioned in relation to the river and dyke, because I got lost once or twice from all the "tail spins". What that video really needs is some unicorns coming out of the ground and money raining down from the sky to match the delusional dream presented to the public. I for one would rather have seen a more technical approach in displaying where the water will go, what's being done in managing it and how everything placed in the floodplain has been carefully thought through. What I want to see in the video is the current status of the landscape and have the "blue water" come up to the levels of a 300 year flood to show everyone on a 3D topographical map what will sit underwater. Then drop the blue away and show what's planned in that space, then once again bring back the blue. Give the public a clue on what could be sitting in water. But they don't. It's like, we're told the stage for the amphitheater will not be effected by a 300 year event... Well then, show us on the 3D map! With the water and without the water. This is what needs to be done at every section! "Here's the abour during the summer and here's that same abour during flooding." Same goes with the gardens, the walking paths, the statues, the playground, all the structures and all those bloody trees... "Here's what we have, here's what is planned and here's what it could look like if/when flooding happens." That's what I want to see! Anybody else up for that? They have the topographical calculations to produce the map and they have the capability to make items pop up on this 3D map. Then show me where the water will sit at the Discovery Center during flooding! But they won't do that, because that's a negative aspect of being on a riverbank. But, we as the public need to hear the bad with the good so we can make good judgement.  
 
Maybe I'm just annoyed and bitter with this slick presentation of how it's soooo artificially positive, or maybe I'm just seeing through the smokescreen that this civic project is nothing but a poorly planned publicly funded fantasy doomed for failure. Not one thing proposed is on the other side of the dyke. Doesn't that alarm anyone? How many trees has been planted down there since 1990? And yet again we're going at it to replant some more! Really?? I'm almost ready at this point to just "give in" like how a tired parent does with an persistent child and "let them learn the hard way". But I can't, simply because of our history with the river is so recent that we can't be that stupid to re-build on the wrong side of the dykes. Stop it! Daddy said NO, you cannot waste our money on just something you want. And that's FINAL! If you want to play over on the other side of the hill, that's okay -We'll allow that. But you're not playing near the river. ...Mommy doesn't think it's safe.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

YES YES YES, I agree with everything you just stated. The video was a lot of fancy 3D imaging, trying to make the public think it was a good idea. They never touched on how they are going to fix the sidewalks coming off the foot bridge, they are always under water, even after a heavy rain. This whole marketing campaign is just another waste of money.

I’ll admit I haven’t read enough on the proposal but the first thought that comes to mind is to not automatically throw a brick wall up to any and all development. This isn’t Brandon Florida but as an example Florida beach towns still develop their waterfront even under the threat of hurricane or tsunami... they just do their best to build so that it’s as sustainable as possible in the event of a disaster. We’re obviously not a beach town but the Riverbank is all we’ve got and so I’m open to listening about how it can be responsibly developed. It’s obviously possible to develop at that site and have stuff not get catastrophically damaged or the main Disc Centre building wouldn’t still be standing in all its glory.  
I totally understand being nervous at the thought of throwing money away but before I fully pass judgement I want to know all I can about the plans to make it sustainable. I see in one post that there’s an effort to build at least part of it at higher than 1 in 300 level... but in reading what I’m reading I think the powers that be need to do a better job of communicating not just how nice this could look and be when done but what steps have been taken to ensure the investment is sustainable and not taking a lighter to taxpayer dollars. If more info is available on that aspect of thinks please share a link!

Use these if they will withstand the yearly flooding..  
http://www.newwind.fr/en/  
Teach children and society about renewable energy rather than replanting year over year.  
 
Frankly this project needs to be 100% creatively constructed to withstand the flood plain.  
 
Champion this project as 21st century rather than completely birds and butterflies. The river will take care of the birds and butterflies and the marsh paths will accentuate nature.