$8 Million Invested in Sewage Treatment and Water Distribution, Port Hawkesbury

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--$8 Million Invested in Sewage Treatment and Water Distribution, Port Hawkesbury

Two Inverness County communities will be serviced by a new centralized sewage-treatment system and Port Hastings will receive water distribution service because of a project funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.

Federal and provincial funding of $5,355,532 was announced today, July 11, by Premier John Hamm, and MP Rodger Cuzner, on behalf of Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of the County of Inverness will invest the remaining $2,677,768 upon formal acceptance of the agreement.

"This project is an important investment in the future growth of both Port Hawkesbury and Port Hastings," said Premier Hamm. "Today's announcement is a positive step towards making our communities safer and healthier."

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.

"The government of Canada is working with Nova Scotians to build strong communities and improve our quality of life," said Mr. Cuzner. "Through the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program, we are investing in green projects like the one today in Port Hawkesbury, that will improve our environment and provide safe, higher-quality municipal water and waste-water systems."

The planned regional sewage-treatment plant and waste-water collection system project will replace two existing sewage- treatment plants in Port Hawkesbury and Port Hastings with a single regional plant. The new plant will provide much more efficient service to the area by treating the water of 130 more households and 16 more businesses. The plant also addresses future needs of the communities by providing a 20-year growth capacity.

Port Hastings will receive a new water-distribution system that will alleviate long-standing water-supply problems in that community.

"Constructing this single regional sewage treatment plant for the Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings area makes sound economic, ecological and health sense," said Billy Joe MacLean, mayor of Port Hawkesbury. "Today we are building the infrastructure of the future."

"There is no compromise for the health of our communities. The project we are announcing today will provide clean, potable municipal water to more than 120 households and businesses and modern waste-water management to today's residents. It will endure to provide efficient service for those to come," said A.J. MacDougall, warden of Inverness County.

This is one of a series of approval announcements for projects under the program. To date, 60 projects have been approved during on the first round of the program, representing an investment of more than $84 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.