News

Winter is here, and so is our new snowplow! We want YOU to help us give it a name that reflects our community spirit! 

Get Creative! Whether it’s a punny play on words or a nod to our local history – every name suggestion is encouraged! Let’s make sure our snowplow has a name as cool as the winter itself!!

Ready, set, name away!

December 04, 2024

Sussex Council has received its final report on the Fire Service Review (FSR) from the Loomex Group at its special meeting of Council held at Town Hall on December 03, 2024. The FSR project had commissioned the review and the following deliverables:
• To identify and evaluate the current and anticipated fire protection needs in Sussex and its contracted fire service areas.
• To assess the fire protection services that Sussex and its contracted fire service areas currently receives.
• To provide data that Sussex can use to make informed decisions about the safety of its residents, businesses, visitors, and firefighters, and;
• To provide strategies and identify resources that Sussex can use to manage its current and anticipated fire protection needs adequately and cost-effectively.

The Council of Sussex and the Sussex Fire Department can reference this FSR when making policy, organizational, capital, and operational decisions over the next ten or more years. Click Here to view our FSR in its entirety.

As part of the Town’s FSR Sussex contracted The Loomex Group to develop a Community Risk Reduction Plan (“CRRP”) in 2024. The CRRP project had the following objectives:
• To ensure Sussex complies with the standards of NFPA 1300, which advises every community to conduct a CRRP every five years.
• To identify and examine the public safety risks in Sussex from a fire services perspective, and;
• To recommend strategies that Sussex and the Sussex Fire Department can use to mitigate the Town’s public safety risks.

In accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1300, there are nine community profiles that must be reviewed when developing a CRRP. The Loomex Group completed those reviews by collecting various statistics about Sussex and then evaluating that information as per the instructions provided by NFPA 1300 and other industry guidelines.

In addition to reviewing statistics, The Loomex Group conducted site visits and met with stakeholders from Sussex in order to gain first-hand insights about the current and potential public safety risks in the community. Finally, The Loomex Group used a risk assessment tool to calculate the severity of each public safety risk it identified in Sussex. The Loomex Group then evaluated the administrative and operational concerns associated with each threat.
Click Here to view our CRRP in its entirety.

Click Here to view the complete presentation by The Loomex Group to Sussex Council on December 03, 2024

For further information please contact Scott M. Hatcher, P. Eng, CAO at Town Hall during normal business hours.

Your thoughts and experiences matter to us! Your insights can help shape the future of our fire service. Please take a moment to share your feedback, suggestions, or experiences below.

Sussex is pleased to advise Sussex residents that the Flood Mitigation Initial Project Description documents for the Sussex Flood Mitigation Proposal has been submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). The proposed Project involves the construction of two flood diversion channels to divert flood waters away from the downtown core and residential areas of Sussex, New Brunswick into the Kennebecasis River. Initial feedback from IAAC.

For our residents information and status of our flood mitigation proposal, the Town provides public copies of our submitted IAAC documentation including:

• Executive Summary – Initial Project Description.
• IAAC Initial Project Description Submission 19-11-2024.
• Sussex Flood Diversion Channels – Climate Lens Green House Gas Calculation, 19-11-2024.
• Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) initial feedback and Information requests, 02-12-2024
• Conformity Review of the Initial Project Description 

The Kennebecasis River flows around Sussex to the southwest, while three tributaries of the Kennebecasis River, Trout Creek, Parsons Brook, and Ward Creek, flow directly through the community. Together, these four watercourses form part of the Kennebecasis Watershed.

Extreme climate change-driven flooding in Sussex has caused millions of dollars in damage over the past decade. Sussex commissioned several studies and developed a Regional Flood Risk Mitigation Plan to alleviate the recurring flooding issues. As an initial step of the Mitigation Plan, a flood berm was constructed along the Kennebecasis River behind the Town’s Gateway Mall in 2019, providing flood protection for the northwestern area of the Town during the flood events of December 2020 and February 2024 and to complete the necessary prerequisite project to facilitate the future flood mitigation measures. Flood studies were conducted by the Town’s consulting engineers GEMTEC in 2022 to estimate flood levels in the Kennebecasis River and its tributaries resulting from a future (projected to the year 2100) 100-year storm event. Without additional flood mitigation measures, it was predicted that over 450 properties would be affected by this future flood event.

Our Flood Mitigation Proposal includes the optimum combination of flood mitigation measures, which are also the remaining measures to be implemented as part of the Regional Flood Risk Mitigation Plan. This will include the construction of two channels that will redirect excess flood water from Parsons Brook and Trout Creek into the Kennebecasis River. By implementing targeted flood mitigation measures, the project aims to significantly decrease the frequency, severity, and extent of flooding along Trout Creek and Parsons Brook. The project seeks to safeguard critical infrastructure, reduce property damage, and minimize disruption to the local population. These efforts are designed to enhance the long-term resilience of Sussex against future flood events.

The key components of the Project include:

Parsons Brook Diversion Channel. A 580 metre channel extending northeast from Parsons Brook near Sussex Corner Elementary School to Trout Creek, with the discharge point located 350 metres upstream of the Post Road Bridge. The channel will pass through recreational green spaces near the school, coming within 100 metres of the building. The closest residence to the channel is 50 metres from the intake structure at the intersections within 200 m of the proposal channel.

Trout Creek Diversion Channel. A 1,600 metre channel extending north from Trout Creek near Brown’s Paving Ltd. to the floodplain of the Kennebecasis River, east of Aiton Road and north of Route 1. Five homes along Bryant Drive and Canterbury close are within 200 meters of the channel’s southern end, and at Leonard Drive, the channel will be 20 to 30 meters from nearby homes.

The proposed diversion channels cross municipally-owned, provincially-owned, and privately-owned land. Other upgrades associated with the Project include the construction of two bridge/overpass structures on New Brunswick Route 1, construction of a culvert or Bridge at Leonard Drive, raising the bridge deck elevation of a section of New Brunswick Route 890 and the adjacent covered bridge, and the addition of minor flow control measures to the storm sewer system downtown Sussex.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $38.25 million, which includes $15.7 million for highway bridges on Route 1.

Funding applications to Infrastructure Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) was submitted for the Project in July 2023 for $15.3 million in federal funding, accounting for 40% of the project eligible costs. In addition to the request for federal funding, an application was submitted to the Provincial Government of New Brunswick under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) for just over $12.6 million, accounting for 33%. Approval for both the federal DMAF and provincial ICIP funding was received for the Project in June 2024. Sussex will cover the remaining 27% of the project cost at approximately $10.3 million by using reserved funds, borrowing, and drawing from its annual budgets during the design and construction phases.

The project is expected to take about three to five years to complete, depending on how quickly all necessary approvals are obtained. The design phase is currently underway, with details like the size of the channels, environmental considerations, and bridge specifications being finalized. This design work should be finished by 2025. Construction is planned to begin in 2026, with bridge work on Route 1 taking two years (2026 and 2027), and work on Route 890 and Leonard Drive bridges set for 2026 or 2027. The diversion channels and hydraulic control structures are also planned for construction during 2026 and 2027, with the full project expected to be operational by 2028. This project is designed to last for 80 to 100 years, providing long-term flood protection. Routine maintenance, like clearing debris and mowing, will be needed to keep the channels working efficiently, but the overall design and materials are built to ensure the channels remain effective for decades to come.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONTINUES:

The development of the Regional Flood Risk Mitigation Plan, and the subsequent Sussex Flood Mitigation Proposal, involved extensive consultations with landowners, businesses, government agencies, and Indigenous communities. A public meeting was also held in March 2022 to gather input. The main concerns raised during these consultations included:

• Potential increases in water levels in the areas receiving diverted floodwaters, such as parts of Trout Creek and the Kennebecasis River.
• The costs associated with building, operating, and maintaining new bridge structures, especially where the proposed flood diversion channels intersect with Route
• The need to raise the elevation of the bridge over the Kennebecasis River.
• The use of private land for the flood channels, including agreements for land sales or occupation.

Consultations with stakeholders will continue throughout the planning and implementation of the project to ensure concerns are addressed. A high-level project description was sent in June 2024 to the Chiefs of all Mi’gmaq and Wolastoqey First Nations. Specific feedback has been received from the First Nation Communities:

• Oromocto First Nation, which requested more information but had no immediate concerns.
• Peskotomuhkati at Skutik First Nation, which deferred consultation to the Mi’gmaq communities.
• Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated (MTI), representing eight Mi’gmaq First Nations, which requested a Mi’gmaq Rights Impact Assessment (MRIA) to ensure Aboriginal and Treaty rights are considered.

The Town and GEMTEC met with MTI representatives in July 2024 to discuss archaeological concerns and agreed to have an Indigenous Monitor present during the archeological assessment. Ongoing communication and cooperation with Indigenous groups, Infrastructure Canada, and the New Brunswick Department of Indigenous Affairs will continue to ensure all concerns are addressed appropriately as we proceed further with our project development.

For further information please contact Scott M. Hatcher, P. Eng. CAO Sussex during normal business hours

Previous Flood Mitigation Plan Updates:

Areas of Sussex are set to witness the latest advancement in the Flood Mitigation berm construction project as the Town’s engineering consultants commence drone operations to capture a digital terrain survey model of the Meadow Crescent Berm construction area.

Starting November 19, 2024, certified drone operators will utilize Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to conduct these operations over a period of up to two weeks, as weather allows.These drone flights will be carefully executed within designated project areas.

This initiative aims to create a detailed digital terrain model that will aid in the effective planning and execution of the berm construction. This innovative approach marks an exciting step forward in the Flood Mitigation Plan.

Residents can expect to see drones in the air as they capture high-resolution images and data critical for the project’s success. The use of UAV technology not only streamlines the surveying process but also enhances safety and efficiency, allowing for comprehensive coverage of the construction area without the need for extensive ground inspections.

Sussex encourages it’s residents to stay engaged with the ongoing developments of this exciting project.

Check out October’s Flood Mitigation Plan Update regarding core sampling: https://sussex.ca/core-sampling-underway-sussexs-flood-mitigation-project-advances/

For more information on the Flood Mitigation Master Plan: https://sussex.ca/flood-mitigation-master-plan-funding-announced/

Updates will be provided here, through VoyentAlert and on Facebook.

November 22, 2024 – 3:20PM: THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY has now been RESCINDED:

The Town and Department of Health have received the laboratory results from the second round of water quality testing. The Town is pleased to report that lab analysis has communicated that both our first and second set of tests are satisfactory.

To that end, The Town has been advised by the District Medical Officers of Health that the Boil Water Order / Advisory has been rescinded. There is no further need to boil water in Sussex.

The Town would like to thank all residents for their cooperation and understanding.

November 19: The Town of Sussex wishes to advise that while the Town was performing scheduled work on a section of the Main Street watermain that supplies potable water to residences / businesses in Ward 1 on Tuesday November 19, 2024, that unexpectedly, the Town experienced catastrophic failure of the watermain in that area that has impacted service pressures in Ward 1. The restoration of the water system work will require an assessment in the water system integrity in Ward 1 that could result in a potential contamination of drinking water, and, as such it is necessary to undertake this advisory as a precaution.

Work on the localized area of impact, the failure area, is expected to take approximately 8 hours to complete system repairs. This water system work will require a breach in the water system integrity that could result in a potential contamination of drinking water in the immediate area of the break / failure, and, as such it is necessary to undertake this advisory as a precaution.

Ward 2 residents are unaffected by this advisory.

WARD 1 – THE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS ARE ALL INCLUDED IN WARD 1.

The Town of Sussex apologizes for this inconvenience, but your health is our primary concern.

On Friday October 25, members of the Royal Canadian Legion and Mayor Marc Thorne gathered for a solemn and significant event: the raising of the Remembrance Day flag.

This annual tradition marks the beginning of a period of reflection and gratitude for the sacrifices made by our veterans and those who continue to serve our country. From the last Friday of October through November 11th, our community joins millions across Canada in wearing the iconic red poppy. This small but powerful symbol, pinned close to our hearts, serves as a visual reminder of the courage and dedication of those who have fought for our freedoms.

The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign plays a crucial role in this period of remembrance. Through the distribution of poppies and collection of donations, the campaign not only raises awareness but also provides vital support to veterans and their families within our community.

It’s heartening to see our local Legionnaires volunteering tirelessly, ensuring that poppies are available in schools, community centers, and businesses throughout our town. As they gathered for the flag raising ceremony, we stand united in our commitment to honor the past and hope for a peaceful future. We encourage all residents to participate in this meaningful tradition by wearing a poppy. Let us come together as a community to pay our respects, express our gratitude, and ensure that the memory of those who have served lives on.

On October 21, The Kings County Foster parents and staff participated in an annual flag raising of the “Kings County Foster Families” flag to recognize National Foster Family Week 2024.

National Foster Family Week shines a spotlight on the unwavering dedication of families who open their hearts and homes to children in need of safety and stability. In New Brunswick, the demand for foster families remains constant, with foster care playing a vital role in communities across the province.

Foster Families provide more than just a roof over heads; they offer emotional support and stability that significantly influence a child’s development and future well-being. Through fostering, these families cultivate a sense of security and exemplify positive relationships, which are crucial for healthy emotional growth.

New Brunswick is taking innovative steps to address longstanding challenges in its foster care system. The recently implemented Child and Youth Well-Being Act represents a significant overhaul of the Province’s child protection framework, extending support for children in care up to age 26 and emphasizing the importance of maintaining cultural and familial connections. 

Despite these advancements, New Brunswick continues to grapple with a shortage of foster homes, with only 356 homes available for 660 children in care.

To our Sussex Foster Families and Staff – Thank you for opening your hearts and homes, for being advocates, mentors, and role models. Your dedication makes a profound difference in the lives of children and the community as a whole.

Click here for more information on Foster Care in New Brunswick.

Beginning Thursday October 10, 2024 Sussex engineering consultants have mobilized a drill to conduct subsurface assessment and collection of core samples relating to our flood mitigation project planning. 

This geotechnical investigation / work is expected to take approximately two (2) weeks to complete and these activities will provide valuable insight into the geotechnical conditions to assist the engineering consultants with design data to accommodate registration of the Flood Mitigation Project under the Provincial Environmental Impact Assessment legislation and as well as the Federal Impact Assessment legislation.

What are Geotechnical Conditions?

The term “geotechnical conditions” refers to the physical characteristics of soil and subsurface materials at a specific location. Prior to starting engineering projects, it is essential to assess and document these conditions. This assessment provides critical information that enables appropriate precautionary measures, necessary to move forward successfully.

Core sampling will be taking place along the proposed Route 1 crossing for the Trout Creek Diversion Channel.

The main diversion channel will extend from Trout Creek to the Kennebecasis River floodplain, crossing Route 1, while the second channel will link Parson Brook to Trout Creek.