The Town of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, launched a Climate Risks Survey on February 2, 2026, asking residents to identify where flooding, coastal erosion and storm damage are occurring. The information will help the town prioritize repair and resilience projects — such as culvert and drainage upgrades, breakwater reinforcements, and shoreline protection — as part of capital works planning over the next ten years.
Residents can take part online via the Town website or the PlanCBS engagement portal, or complete a paper copy available at Town Hall. The survey, open until March 15, 2026, asks people to mark specific spots on a map where they have observed historical flooding, significant snow‑ins, or coastal erosion.
The feedback will directly influence how the town prioritizes multi‑million‑dollar infrastructure projects from the municipality’s operating and capital plans. Mayor Darrin Bent has stressed the need for local input, noting that while the area is scenic, it can be “a tinderbox” during dry spells and effectively “a flood zone” during heavy rains — and that the town needs residents to show “where the water is moving on your street, not just what our maps say.”
This push for more proactive planning follows a difficult 2025 season. In September 2025 the town declared a state of emergency after a major water main break that nearly emptied reservoirs; the summer also included a period of high‑alert wildfire conditions described by the mayor as creating a ‘tinderbox’ risk. By gathering household-level data, the town aims to shift from reacting to disasters toward building stronger defenses across its nine communities.
Resident groups who previously criticized the municipal plan for lacking green and pedestrian-friendly priorities have pushed for more environment-focused and walkable designs at planning meetings. The Climate Risks Survey is part of the Town’s 2026 budget and asset-management goals to modernize how roads and public spaces are maintained and upgraded.
