A major new flood prevention scheme in the east of Inverness is expected to be approved by councillors this week.
Final plans for the Smithton and Culloden project will go before the planning committee on Wednesday. (NOV 2)
No objections have been made and officials have recommended that members back the scheme without modification and approve planning conditions to be recommended to Scottish ministers.
Priced at £6.9million in 2012, the estimated cost has risen to £11.4million, although the exact amount is still to be finalised.
The Scottish Government is expected to foot 80% of the bill, with Highland Council paying the rest.
Construction would be expected to start next summer and take between 18 and 24 months.
Designs drawn up by JBA Consulting for the final consultation, which ended in May, included changes made following a previous consultation in March last year.
They propose the replacement of a culvert between Lochlann Court and Redburn Avenue, the creation of flood storage areas in Culloden Park and Smithton Park, the removal of the long culvert beneath Smithton Park and the removal of a long culvert between the railway and Smithton Park.
Council chiefs identified the need for a flood prevention scheme after significant flooding in the area in 2002, July and August 2011, when 50 homes were affected, and again in October 2014.
Modelling shows the plans would protect 129 properties that would otherwise be at risk of a “once-in-200-years” flood event.
Smithton and Culloden Community Council chairman David McGrath said the plans were welcome but he was concerned they did not anticipate further development in the rapidly expanding area.
“It’s not future-proof, in that there are 2,500 homes at Stratton which are imminent,” he said. “Will there be enough drainage for that? We proposed they had an additional drainage channel.
“Our main concern has always been the loss of the playpark at Culloden pitches. They have said they will replace it, but what with? Something of lesser quality or maybe they will go all out?
“Also, the use of the football pitches at Smithton as a water retention area, and the clean-up cost of the pitches after each flooding event. If they have to flood that area because of high rainfall, who will clean up the mess afterwards and who pays for this?”