CANADA, B.C. Invest $17.8Million In Nanaimo Water Plant

CANADA, B.C. INVEST $17.8M

IN NANAIMO WATER PLANT

NANAIMO – A joint federal-provincial investment of over $17.8 million will help fund the new South Fork Water Treatment Plant, improving the quality of local drinking water for nearly 80,000 Nanaimo-area residents, Premier Gordon Campbell, Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney and Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon announced today.

“Every job counts, and this project will help to create an estimated 280 direct, family-supporting jobs, stimulate Nanaimo’s economy and at the same time ensure safe, clean drinking water for local residents,” said Premier Campbell. “This kind of investment shows the power of partnership between different levels of government to work together and build the infrastructure that British Columbians need.”

“This project is just one example of the commitment of Nanaimo and both the federal and provincial governments to strengthen the British Columbia economy by reducing red tape, creating jobs and building the infrastructure that our communities need,” said Lunney.

This investment will fund the construction of a new drinking water treatment plant on Nanaimo Lakes Road that will include ultra-violet disinfection and filtration processes. The plant, which will provide clean drinking water to the City of Nanaimo, South West Extension, and the Snuneymuxw First Nation, will be built to LEED Gold standards. The total direct construction cost is an estimated $45 million, with the Province and the federal government each providing $8.9 million and the City of Nanaimo providing the balance of funding.

“Not only will this project create local jobs, it will help open the doors to future economic growth and opportunities throughout the region,” said Cantelon.

“This announcement is great news on so many levels. Not only will the funding help us bring an important project to fruition, it will also create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during design and construction, which will be a great boon during this economic downturn,” said City of Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan. “The new South Fork Water Treatment Plant is essential to meeting the basic needs of Nanaimo and Snuneymuyx residents and will provide clean, reliable drinking water while minimizing environmental impacts for years to come.”

This project is one of 41 projects across the province that will break ground quickly thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of $110 million. Together with local government contributions, the total investment in local infrastructure improvements in British Columbia during this first intake exceeds $175 million. The governments of Canada and British Columbia have taken steps to get shovels in the ground and to flow money faster for targeted infrastructure projects in British Columbia communities in the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit this Nanaimo Info LINK .