News release

Two Infrastructure Wastewater Improvement Projects Welcomed in Lunenburg County

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

Residents in Chester and New Germany, Lunenburg Co., will soon have improved wastewater systems thanks to funding through the Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Each of the projects responds to municipal and program priorities. The extension of the Walker Road sewage system in Chester will collect sewage from the 11 households currently discharging raw sewage into the Chester Back Harbour. It will direct the sewage to the Chester sewage treatment plant. Funding for phase one of the New Germany sewer system upgrade will include engineering design, and the purchase and installation of process equipment. The upgrade will enable the wastewater treatment facility to treat sewage to a higher level.

Federal and provincial funding of $576,568 was announced today, Feb. 19, by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. The municipalities of Chester and Lunenburg will fund the balance of the project costs upon formal acceptance of the agreement.

"Today's investments are fine examples of how our government is taking the steps needed to make our communities a better place to live, work and raise our families." said Michael Baker, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "We are committed to helping provide a high quality of life for all our citizens and protecting the environment."

"It is clear that our government is playing a leadership role in the financing, construction and maintenance of our infrastructure," said MP Gerald Keddy, on behalf of Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "A cleaner and healthier environment enriches the quality of life in Canada, and attracts and retains the highly skilled and mobile people we need to succeed."

The infrastructure program supports community infrastructure improvements, such as water, wastewater, and solid waste management.

"The health and safety of Chester residents is one of our top priorities," said Allen Webber, warden of the Municipality of the District of Chester. "Upgrading our wastewater systems is paramount to retaining Chester's quality of life."

"We are pleased that we can move forward with this important sewage system upgrade," said Jack Wentzell, warden of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. "More than 250 households currently connected on the municipal wastewater collection system will soon have their wastewater treated to a higher level."

The $111-million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities are members of the Program management committee.