The South Innisfil Creek Drain (SICD) in the Town of Innisfil is a municipal drain, created over 100 years ago in response to repeated flooding of the properties along the South Innisfil Creek. The watershed surrounding the drains collects runoff from about 800 properties across Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury and directs it to one of the drains. The main drain, in turn, empties into the Nottawasaga River.
Drainage improvements and construction
We're improving the SICD under the Drainage Act. Construction began in early 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in phases. Properties located along the SICD main drain or on one of the four branch drains may be impacted both physically and financially. Read our Staff Report for more information.
Project stages
Discover the various project stages that will lead to the implementation of the necessary improvements to the municipal drain. View our staff report to Council, recommending the improvements.
Step one: Engineer's Report
The Town appointed consultant R.J. Burnside to prepare an Engineer's Report outlining all the aspects on the proposed improvement project, including, but not limited to:
- Technical descriptions of the work required
- Estimated cost sharing amounts for all property owners within the watershed
- Maps of the area
Property owners received a copy of the report in 2019, followed by an invitation to discuss the report at a public meeting.
Step two: Provisional By-law passed
Town Council adopted the Provisional By-law 010-19 on February 27, 2019 accepting the Engineer's Report. We circulated the by-law to all property owners within the watershed along with a notice for the Court of Revision in March 2019.
Step three: Appeals are heard
Three separate bodies may hear appeals to the Engineer's Report based on the type of appeal brought forward. These include:
- Court of Revision (municipal level review)
- Hears appeals to the assessment values found in Appendix B of the report
- Tribunal (provincial level tribunal)
- Hears appeals to the Court of Revision's decision
- Hears appeals to the technical aspects of the report
- Drainage Referee (provincial level court)
- Hears appeals to the Tribunal's decision regarding technical aspects of the report
- Hears appeals to the legal aspects of the project
Step four: Final approval of the Engineer's Report
After all appeals have been addressed appropriately, Town Council must give the report final approval in order to authorize construction. This occurs via final reading of the project's by-law.
Step five: Tendering of the project
The Town puts the project out for tender 10 days after the by-law receives final approval. If tenders come in over the estimated cost provided in the report by 33% or more, our staff will notify property owners and hold a public meeting to help determine if the project should move forward.
Step six: Construction of the project
After an eligible bid is successfully chosen for the contract, construction will begin on drain improvements.
Step seven: Post-construction activities
After construction is finished, the Town will work to complete the project by:
- Amending the by-law to reflect actual costs
- Registering the by-law
- Applying for Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) grants on behalf of property owners
Council will make a decision about the manner and timeframe that property owners will have to remit payment for the project.
Step eight: Final appeal
If property owners find the work done by the contractor to be unsatisfactory, they can make appeals to the Tribunal.
Project documents
You can review project documents for detailed information.