Cleaner environment for Lunenburg residents and visitors

LUNENBURG, NS, Sept. 29, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are committed to supporting infrastructure projects that ensure Canadians and their families have access to modern, reliable water and wastewater services that meet their needs. Investing in these projects safeguards the health and well-being of residents, protects waterways and preserves local ecosystems, while also laying the foundation for new economic opportunities to strengthen the middle class across the province.

Bernadette Jordan, Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margaret's, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs; and Rachel Bailey, Mayor of the Town of Luneburg, today announced over $1.1 million in joint funding to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in Lunenburg. The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding for this project—$573,500 through the Government of Canada's Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The Government of Nova Scotia is providing up to $286,750 and the Town of Lunenburg will provide the balance of funding.

This project includes the installation of a biofilter system to effectively improve odour reduction at the facility, which was identified as a priority by the Town. Once completed, this project will contribute to better air quality and a cleaner environment, and will ensure the continued enjoyment of this picturesque sea-side community for residents and the high volume of tourists that visit each year.

This investment is part of an agreement between Canada and Nova Scotia for Canada's Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. This project is in addition to the 73 CWWF projects announced for Nova Scotia on August 16, 2016.

Quotes

"Investing in wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to maintaining a healthy environment and keeping our waterways clean. The Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories and municipalities across the country to support important projects like the Lunenburg biofilter odour control system, which ensure that Canadian communities are sustainable places where people want to live and raise their families."

Bernadette Jordan, Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margaret's, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Investing in infrastructure for clean water and wastewater will lead our province toward a stronger and more sustainable future. We're pleased to work with our federal and municipal partners to support the installation of a new biofilter at the wastewater facility in the Town of Lunenburg."

Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs

"This is great news for the Town of Lunenburg. We are grateful to have the support of our federal and provincial partners through the CWWF program to move ahead with the installation of a bio-filter for odour mitigation at our Wastewater Treatment facility on Starr Street. Odour from the sewage treatment process at that site has been an issue of great community concern and we are very happy to now have the means to address it."

Rachel Bailey, Mayor, Town of Lunenburg

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375

Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/ns-eng.html

The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf/cwwf-program-programme-eng.html.

Twitter: @INFC_eng

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada