ANTIGONISH: The federal and provincial governments are investing just north of $3.5 million in water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades that will help the Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish prepare for future growth.
“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting infrastructure projects that ensure communities are able to grow and thrive,” Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova Sean Fraser said. “The investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in the town and county of Antigonish announced today will help protect our water supply from environmental threats, ensuring that community growth is green and inclusive. These projects will also deliver clean drinking water to over 1,200 acres of property for development, helping the area to grow and flourish.”
While the Government of Canada is providing $2,372,800, the Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $1,155,333 to the projects.
“Our municipalities depend on modern infrastructure to be competitive and attract new residents to their communities,” Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr said. “By making these investments, we will improve the efficiency of the water and wastewater systems, ensuring residents and businesses have the services they expect and depend on every day and laying the foundation for continued growth for years to come.”
The Municipality of the County of Antigonish is expanding the St. Josephs and Lanark water systems to provide access to drinking water to more properties; the St. Josephs project includes about 40 undeveloped properties that cover more than 260 hectares; the Lanark project includes 10 existing residences, a business and about 15 undeveloped properties that cover more than 240 hectares.
“We are thrilled to extend our water services into the St. Josephs and Lanark areas. This ensures more residents will have access to municipal water and allow us to keep growing our community,” Warden Owen McCarron said. “I want to thank Deputy Warden Hughie Stewart and Councillor Donnie MacDonald who have been strong advocates for service extensions in their communities.”
The Town of Antigonish is upgrading the water main and sewer infrastructure along Bay and Main Streets and building a storm water sewer and curbs on both sides the streets. The province is contributing $822,000 to increase the capacity of the water main and sanitary systems to better serve the existing community and allow for future development.
“Investments like this are incredibly important to smaller municipalities. The funding support provides the resources needed to tackle major infrastructure projects, like our Bay Street upgrades, which are vital in creating sustainable, more efficient, and more accessible communities,” Mayor Laurie Boucher said. “The Bay Street work includes underground infrastructure upgrades that will provide an increase in the water and sewer capacities that serve the surrounding areas and allow for future developments. This project will also revitalize this gateway entrance into Antigonish and improve the transportation to and from our regional hospital.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
- Government of Canada – $2,372,800
- Province of Nova Scotia – $1,155,333
- Municipality of the County of Antigonish – $924,267
- Town of Antigonish – $657,600