Whitecourt town council has awarded the tender for the Athabasca River South Bank Protection project to McKnight Enterprises Ltd. for $1,588,739.60, plus GST.
In 2012, significant erosion along the south bank of the Athabasca River threatened the Millar Western pulp property and was identified as presenting a risk to town infrastructure and land. A series of erosion control spurs was constructed in the area to prevent additional erosion of the riverbank.
Then, in 2023, a significant flood damaged several of the spurs. The town says an assessment determined that further damage and erosion would likely occur if they are not repaired.
McKnight Enterprises Ltd.’s proposal received the best rating during the tender process.
Its proposal is $526,023.81 higher than the lowest bid. With 90 per cent of the project costs funded by the provincial Disaster Relief Program, and 10 per cent by the town, Whitecourt’s costs will be $52,602.38 more than with the lowest bid.
The town says the chosen contractor has completed erosion repairs for Alberta Transportation and other towns in Alberta with similar materials in creeks and rivers, which is essential to the project. The lowest bidder reportedly only had some “in water” experience, but not in a river with similar dynamics to the Athabasca.
