Middleton, Annapolis Royal and Kingston Receive Infrastructure Funding

The communities of Annapolis Royal, Middleton and Kingston will receive more than $5 million in funding to help improve drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.

The investment by the provincial, federal and municipal governments, delivered through the communities component of the Building Canada Fund, was announced today, Feb. 28, by Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, and Greg Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

"Today's infrastructure investment is part of the Building for Growth program that will stimulate the economy and help build healthy communities," said Ms. Bolivar-Getson. "The government is committed to preserving and creating jobs now and investing in the long-term prosperity of Nova Scotia."

"The government of Canada clearly recognizes the importance of infrastructure as part of the economic stimulus plan and we are already delivering on additional and significant investments in infrastructure announced in the most recent federal budget," said Mr. Kerr. "We will continue to work with our provincial and municipal partners to expedite priority projects and ensure they become a reality over the next two construction seasons."

The project with the Town of Middleton includes the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility that will benefit about 1,000 households. The new facility will provide enhanced treatment of wastewater and will be designed to accommodate future growth. The total cost of the project is $3,936,900 that will be funded equally by the federal and provincial governments, and the Town of Middleton.

The project with the Town of Annapolis Royal includes the replacement of aging water and wastewater mains along St. Patrick's Lane and Ritchie and Grange streets. About 24 households will benefit from improvements in drinking water, wastewater system and fire protection. The cost of the project is $1,023,000 that will be funded equally by the federal and provincial governments, and the Town of Annapolis Royal.

The project with the Village of Kingston includes the extension of a wastewater main along Pine Ridge Avenue. The extension will connect four households that have aging, malfunctioning sewage systems, to the municipal wastewater system. The cost of the project is $138,300 and will be funded equally by the federal and provincial governments, and the Municipality of Kings.

"These much-needed infrastructure projects will help improve the quality of life for residents in these communities, as well as enhance the capacity for growth," said Lloyd Hines, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "We look forward to seeing more funds dedicated to these types of projects in the future."

Under the communities component of the Building Canada Fund, the federal, provincial and municipal governments anticipate investing upwards of $111 million in infrastructure projects in smaller communities across Nova Scotia, between now and 2014.