Minister, Premier, Mayor Get a Closer Look at Harbour Solutions Project

Representatives of all three levels of government got a closer look at the Harbour Solutions Project work sites today, Oct 20.

Premier Rodney MacDonald, Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Peter Kelly, mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), took part in a tour of the two main construction sites in the Harbour Solutions Project.

The tour included an explanation of the advanced-primary wastewater system being utilized in the project, an underground tour of the Halifax wastewater treatment facility, followed by a viewing by boat of the Dartmouth wastewater treatment facility .

"The federal government is pleased to play a pivotal role in the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project. This project is imperative to the clean up of the harbour and in creating a cleaner environment for the residents of HRM and for all those who utilize the harbour for commercial and recreational purposes," said Mr. MacKay.

Premier MacDonald said that while the harbour plays such an important role commercially for the province, it is just as important to see the environmental condition of the Harbour reclaimed and respected.

"The spring completion of the Halifax wastewater treatment facility will be a major milestone for the residents of HRM," said Mr. Kelly. "We all look forward to environmental, recreational, and economic benefits associated with the Harbour Solutions Project."

Construction activity on the Harbour Solutions Project began in the Fall of 2003 with the sewage collection system infrastructure on the Halifax side of the harbour. Construction on the Halifax wastewater treatment facility has been underway since the fall of 2004. Major activity at the Dartmouth site began in December of 2005 and the Herring Cove wastewater treatment facility is well underway.

Overall, the Harbour Solutions Project remains on schedule and on budget. The project is slated for completion in the summer or fall of 2008.

The province has committed $30 million over 15 years, and will provide two pieces of property in Dartmouth valued at $2 million. The federal government, through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund has committed $60 million and the municipality is funding the remaining costs.