Infrastructure Funding Project in Sydney
SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Infrastructure Funding Project in Sydney
More than 5,000 Sydney households will be added to the city's treated sewage disposal system thanks to a $1,170,719 project funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.
Joint federal and provincial funding of $780,478 was announced today, Nov. 27, by Energy Minister Cecil Clarke, on behalf of Barry Barnet, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, and by Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on behalf of the Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will fund the balance upon formal acceptance of the agreement.
"The government of Canada has made a commitment to building strong communities and improving quality of life," 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 and provide safe, high quality sewer and water systems."
One of the first priorities of the program is green municipal infrastructure that ensures effective wastewater management and safe drinking water. To date, the majority of the federal and provincial funding announced has been directed towards green projects.
"This project will have an immediate impact on the health and environment of the community," said Mr. Clarke. "Along with the Sydney Harbour Sewage Treatment facility, this project will greatly improve the cleanliness and appearance of the harbour and will improve Sydney's environment."
The Byng Avenue Sanitary Sewer Collector project provides for the construction of a 740-metre sanitary sewer that will intercept raw sewage from the Valley Sewer and convey it to the proposed Muggah Creek Interceptor Sewer. The collector sewer will eliminate three untreated outfalls along the Sydney Harbour waterfront and convey wastewater to the proposed Sydney Harbour Sewage Treatment Facility at Battery Point, which is also being funded under the infrastructure program. In all, an additional 5,260 households will see a higher level of sewage treatment once the project is completed.
"By investing in infrastructure projects like this one, we are able to meet our objectives of providing effective and fundamental municipal services to our residents," said John Morgan, mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality. "This project is of great value to our community and we are very pleased to make this announcement today."
This is one of a series of approval announcements for projects under the program, which has invested more than $155-million in 99 projects to date. 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 Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. 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.