The north-east has been given millions of pounds to try to spare communities from a repeat of the flooding which wreaked havoc across the region in the wake of Storm Frank.
The Scottish Government will pump a total of £420million into protecting homes and businesses across the country over the next decade.
And First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed Aberdeenshire Council will get more than £7million this year – more than any other local authority in Scotland.
The region was devastated by flooding in December and January as water levels in the River Don and River Ythan surged amid torrential rain.
Scores of homes were evacuated, while businesses and local infrastructure were also badly damaged.
About 600 homes and 100 businesses are estimated to have been flooded in Aberdeenshire in the days Storm Frank.
Local residents have welcomed the “excellent news” that funding has been made available to allow the council to build new flood defences.
Speaking in Newton Stewart, which was also badly affected by Storm Frank, Ms Sturgeon said: “Earlier this year I saw first-hand the devastating effects of mother nature as storms battered our communities.
“Last December is on record as the wettest and saw levels at rivers across Scotland overflow.
“This agreement will give local authorities the certainty they need to deliver the actions set out in their local flood risk management plans to help protect individuals, business and communities from the danger of flooding.”
Ballater farmer Allan Adams welcomed the news as he looked forward to moving back into his flood-hit home in the next few weeks.
He said last night: “That’s excellent news. It is good news but it depends how quickly it happens. The last one was an abnormal flood, but floods happen every couple of years.
“That last flood, I don’t think there is anything to do to protect us from that huge volume of water, you physically can’t get rid of that – unless maybe it is held further uphill.
“There is a feeling in Ballater that we are not protected from the regular floods. The big floods destroyed the defences. You have to have some sort of plan, you can’t just build up walls.
“It would be nice to see it happen within a year and not five years.”
Father-of-three, Mr Adams, added he was still dealing with the aftermath of the events of December 30.
“We are still finding things that I have forgotten about, a foot of wet stuff at the bottom of the silage, you go to use a tool and you realise it doesn’t work,” he said.
Inverurie and District SNP councillor Bryan Stuart worked with locals in Port Elphinstone to get a bund along Riverside Park re-established following Storm Frank.
The defence failed on January 7, collapsing under the surge of the Don, and the council has since committed to rebuilding it.
Last night Councillor Stuart said the funding was “fantastic news” for Aberdeenshire.
He said: “That lets us get going on Stonehaven and Huntly’s schemes. The other thing that will be getting done is the design work at Inverurie, Insch and Stonehaven, and the next one is Ballater.
“There is a bit of work in modelling to be done.
“It is really good news for Aberdeenshire. It is good news she has granted it for 10 years, it is a huge lump of money for Aberdeenshire.
“And it is great that we can reliably plan ahead and have money forthcoming to let us do that.
“It has to be a long-term plan because there is a huge amount of money involved and a huge amount of research and development work in the construction.”
