PHOTO: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant was in Cobden last week to officially notify council for the Township of Whitewater Region that the much needed upgrade to the Cobden waste water plant can go ahead with federal and provincial funding. On hand for the announcement were, front row from left, Environmental Services manager Steve Hodson, Councillors Dave Mackay and Charlene Jackson, MP Gallant, Mayor Hal Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons, Councillor Cathy Regier and Treasurer Martha Hawthorne. Back row, from left: Reeve Terry Millar, Brian Whitehead from JP2G Consultants and Councillor Chris Olmstead. Photo submitted
COBDEN — Work to begin the $9.4 million upgrade to the Cobden Wastewater Treatment Plant has now begun that $6.272 million in grant funding has been received from the federal and provincial governments.
The township will debenture (go into debt) to fulfil its obligation of $3.136 million.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant was in town last Thursday to present the township with the federal portion of the funding.
“The water quality in Muskrat Lake has been recognized as one of the biggest ecological problems facing Renfrew County,” MP Gallant said. “The problem did not occur overnight and it will take time to fix. I am pleased to have been able to deliver results with funding to help clean up the lake.”
By cleaning up the lake, it means stopping bypasses of raw sewage into the lagoon, which happens when there is a heavy rain and stormwater infiltrates into the sewer system, explained Christine FitzSimons, Chief Executive Officer for the township. She noted this happens at many wastewater treatment plants, not just in Cobden.
With a new sewage plant, there will be a higher capacity to treat wastewater and more modern technology, she said. This means growth can happen in Cobden, which is now needed since BEI wants to build 73 homes near the current Wren subdivision, she added.
“The upgrade and expansion of the Cobden Waste Water Plant will improve the level of treatment of wastewater effluent in order to address many of the environmental problems of Muskrat Lake, while adding infrastructure capacity for future growth and potential new assessment for the Township,” CAO FitzSimons stated.
The Cobden plant is 38 years old and has more than reached its limit, CAO FitzSimons said. While the current building will be used, the interior will be new and modern equipment, she said.
JP2G, the township’s engineering company, did the application and preliminary engineering work to get the grant, but now, the full-blown engineering work must be completed, as well as studies, CAO FitzSimons said.
It’s expected construction will begin in 2017/18 and be completed by 2018/19, she said. It will be about two years before people begin to see any work being down at the treatment plant, she said.
While it’s not known if there will be any interruptions to service, CAO FitzSimons said, “Our goal is to make it as seamless as possible.”
MP Gallant said without the support of the community, this funding may not have been realized for the township.
“This announcement is good news for individuals who care about the environment,” MP Gallant said. “I am pleased to recognize the work of the Cobden and District Conservation Club, the home and cottage owners, area business owners as well as those individuals who signed petitions that made sure the water quality in Muskrat Lake was a priority for me as their elected Federal Representative.”
She added, “People know I listen to their concerns.”
The New Building Canada Plan adds to the Conservative Government’s unprecedented investments in infrastructure, providing stable, predictable funding for projects that enhance economic growth, job creation and productivity, she explained. With a wide range of eligible categories under the Plan, Canadian provinces, territories and municipalities have the flexibility to meet their unique infrastructure needs, she added.
Since the launch of the new Plan in March 2014, important projects worth more than $6 billion in total project costs have been identified for funding under the New Building Canada Fund in almost every province across the country, MP Gallant said, including the project in Whitewater Region.
In addition, communities with fewer than 100,000 residents have access to $1 billion in funding to build projects that deliver on local needs, MP Gallant added. The cornerstone of the New Building Canada Plan, the federal Gas Tax Fund, also generates economic growth and contributes to job creation across the country.
The Conservative Government made many improvements to the Gas Tax Fund, she said.
“We made it permanent through legislation, doubled to $2 billion annually and has been indexed at two per cent per year,” MP Gallant said. “This will mean an additional $1.8 billion for Canadian municipalities over the next decade, making a difference in local communities.”
Between 2014 and 2024, the Conservative Government will invest around $80 billion in Canada’s public infrastructure that delivers results for Canadians – a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and better communities.
