News release

Green Infrastructure Project Announced in Brookfield

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Green Infrastructure Project Announced in Brookfield


Residents of Brookfield are a step closer to a better sewer system thanks to a project funded through the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.

Joint federal and provincial funding in the amount of $1,199,408 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.

"A clean, healthy environment is crucial to building strong communities and improving our quality of life," said Mr. Thibault. "Through the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program, the government of Canada is investing in green projects that will provide safe, higher-quality drinking water, and improve our environment -- projects just like the one we are announcing today."

Green municipal infrastructure to ensure effective waste water management and safe drinking water is the first priority under the program. The majority of the federal and provincial funding announced in Year One is directed to green projects.

"Funding essential infrastructure projects such as the Brookfield sewage treatment plant upgrade, is a priority for our government," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This project will help provide a cleaner, healthier environment for the residents of Brookfield."

The $1,799,113 Brookfield project involves the construction of a sequence batch reactor treatment facility designed to increase the wastewater treatment capacity of the current plant. In addition to increasing the number of local households connected to the waste water system, the secondary treatment plant will have less impact on the local environment.

The federal and provincial funding under the program is subject to the formal acceptance of the Municipality of the County of Colchester, which will fund the balance of the project.

"Our municipality takes environmental issues very seriously," said Colchester County Mayor Michael Smith. "The replacement of these old plants has been an important environmental objective for us, and we're very pleased to see this project get the go- ahead."

This is one of a series of approval announcements for projects under Year One of the program. To date, 59 projects have been approved totalling more than $76 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.