Sewer project receives more provincial funds

PARRSBORO Thanks to more infrastructure funding from the provincial government, some Parrsboro residents are another step closer to having a new sewer system.

The MacDonald government has agreed to contribute two-thirds of the cost of the Pier Road sewer project, up to a maximum of $122,735, and has also committed 50 per cent of the cost of the towns water utility project, up to $129,886.

Cost sharing projects like these makes it easier for municipalities to afford important infrastructure, said Cumberland South MLA Murray Scott. Projects like these make communities safer and more effective.

The funding was the second grant offered through the provincial department of community services, according to town clerk Ashley Brown, who explained that the province had made a previous financial commitment to the project but that it was not enough to allow the work to move ahead.

They were looking at trying to stage it but we cant do that, explained Brown. The existing pipe in the ground is very old, and once you start to dig around it, stuff will collapse. Its either do all of it, or do none of it.

The sewer project will see the replacement of lines on parts of Pier Road and Two Islands Road, and will not include an expansion of the system.

It will also include a little bit of work on the outfalls, according to Brown, who said the project will be stage one of the towns long-planned sewage treatment plant.

The outdated Pier Road lines will be replaced with a dual-line system, with separate lines for sewage and storm water. The sewage line will eventually run into a lagoon-style treatment plant.

This is going to be expensive, theres no two ways about it, he said, estimating a figure of about $800,000 for the project.

The next step in the process will be to contact the towns engineers, where Brown said he believes the design work for the project is complete, and then put the work out for tender. If the tenders come in within the towns budgeted amount for the project, the work will move ahead. If the cost is too high, then it wont.

If a tender is awarded, it is hoped that the work will be done this fall, he said.

I dont want to see it happen in July or August because its going to involve tearing up portions of Two Islands Road and Pier Road and no one wants to have that at that time of year, he said.

The work on the water utility will involve moving some of the underground well equipment, which is difficult to access, to an above-ground facility, according to Brown.

awagstaff@amherstdaily.com