Amherst Opens New Wastewater Treatment Facility
People in the Amherst area will benefit from cleaner water in the LaPlanche River thanks to improved management of wastewater coming from their homes and businesses.
Brian Skabar, on behalf of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell, MP Scott Armstrong, and Town of Amherst Mayor Rob Small, officially opened the facility today, Oct. 11.
"We are making life better for the people of Amherst with the construction of this facility," said Mr. Skabar. "Investments in infrastructure projects like this one will reduce the impact on the environment, while creating good jobs and growing the economy."
About 3,700 households, as well as schools and businesses, will have their wastewater treated at the lagoon facility. The Town of Amherst project included designing and building the new treatment facility.
"Our government recognizes that a community's economic sustainability relies heavily on the strength of its infrastructure," said MP Scott Armstrong, on behalf of Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). "Projects like this help create jobs and generate economic activity, while improving the health and well-being of our communities and residents."
"Amherst council and staff have worked over 15 years completing all the work required under the Sewer Abatement Strategy," says Mayor Small. "This is the single largest capital project ever undertaken by the Town of Amherst and we are extremely proud of the final result."
The province and the government of Canada each contributed $3,643,900 to help build the facility through the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component. The Town of Amherst contributed $4,714,585 to the project.
The Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund helps fund infrastructure projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000 (as of the 2006 Census). The Communities Component significantly helps smaller communities address individual infrastructure pressures and priorities.