New Landfill Facility for Hants County Municipalities
SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--New Landfill Facility for Hants County Municipalities
The town of Windsor and the municipality of West Hants will soon enjoy the benefits of improved solid waste management in their areas, thanks to a project funded through the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.
Joint federal and provincial funding in the amount of $1,857,032 was announced today by Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and by Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. It was one of six project approvals totalling more than $7.8 million
"Building strong communities and improving quality of life is a priority for the government of Canada, " said Mr. Thibault. "The Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is one of the ways we are investing in green projects designed to improve our environment, like this second-generation landfill for West Hants."
Green municipal infrastructure that ensures effective wastewater management and safe drinking water and enhances the quality of Nova Scotia's environment is the first priority under the program. The majority of the federal and provincial funding announced in Year One has been directed to green projects.
"We know how important a safe, clean environment is to people," said Mr. MacIsaac. "To the residents of Hants West, this project resolves a long-standing issue in the community."
The $2,785,550 second-generation landfill project will involve the engineering, design and construction of landfill infrastructure that will serve the town of Windsor and the municipality of West Hants for 25 years. The new landfill system will improve the region's solid waste management by increasing the volumes diverted to composting and recycling. It will be designed to meet provincial environmental standards.
The federal and provincial funding under the program is subject to the formal acceptance of the Municipality of the District of West Hants, which will fund the balance of the project.
"Effective waste management is one of the necessary paths to promoting healthy communities and ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations," said Warden Richard Dauphinee, of the municipality of West Hants. "This project addresses both concerns."
This is one of a series of approval announcements for projects under the program. To date, 51 projects have been approved during the first year of the program, representing an investment of more than $58 million. Additional announcements are expected as projects undergo environmental assessment and final approval.
The $195 million, six-year Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is a member of the management committee. The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities is represented on the program's management committee.