Grand Lake wastewater project announced - again
Federal, provincial and municipal governments tout $13.2 million in funding Thursday for replacement wastewater treatment facility previously promised six years ago
Three levels of government announced millions in spending Thursday for a new wastewater treatment facility to replace an ageing one in Chipman.
But the same project was announced six years ago by a previous Liberal provincial government and the same federal government - for a fifth of the cost.
The province and Infrastructure Canada issued news releases Thursday announcing the existing Chipman wastewater treatment facility would be replaced at a cost of $13.2 million through combined funding provided by the federal and provincial governments, and the recently amalgamated Municipality of Grand Lake.
Ottawa has pledged $7,920,000 for the project, New Brunswick $4,399,560 through its Regional Development Corp. and Grand Lake contributing $880,440, the province’s release said.
“The Chipman wastewater treatment facility has been standing for 45 years and it is time to replace it,” said Public Safety Minister and Fredericton-Grand Lake MLA Kris Austin said in the release.
“This funding will allow for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility at Grand Lake and will support the growing population in the region.”
Grand Lake Mayor Kevin Nicklin said in the release that the new facility will enable the recently amalgamated community - which includes the former villages of Minto and Chipman, as well as other former communities in the area - to accommodate its growing population and size.
However, online records show the same replacement project was announced in January 2017 under the previous Liberal government of premier Brian Gallant.
Provincial and federal financial commitments for the Chipman replacement project were announced at that time as part of a larger federal program designed to fund 74 water and wastewater projects across New Brunswick.
The province reported Jan. 20, 2017, that Ottawa was providing $1,785,889 while the Regional Development Corp. was investing $892,944, with an “anticipated start date” of May 29, 2017.
The total funding commitment for the project six years ago came to $2,678,833, about 20 per cent of the 2023 total of $13.2 million announced Thursday.
Government commissioned an environment impact assessment for the project six years ago, and the final report - available on the Government of New Brunswick website - was filed with the province June 23, 2017.
That assessment was conducted by the Fredericton office of Opus International Consultants, which has since been acquired by WSP Canada Inc.
The Fredericton Independent inquired with the provincial Regional Development Corp. (RDC) and Infrastructure Canada to inquire why the project didn’t happen in 2017 as originally announced and why the project cost has ballooned by a factor of five in just six years’ time.
RDC spokesperson Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn said the 2017 announcement was for the initial work needed to build the new treatment facility.
“A similar project was announced in 2017 by [the provincial Department of Environment and Local Government] that included an environment impact assessment, design work and the construction of an ultraviolet disinfection system,” she wrote in an email.
“The project announced today will build on this work … Today’s news is a continuation.”
The original 2017 news release made no mention of the funding being for such limited purposes.
“Thanks to this investment, Chipman residents will benefit from a new and improved wastewater treatment facility, replacing the ageing infrastructure currently servicing the community and introducing upgraded processes to ensure cleaner water flows into the Salmon River,” the release said.
Infrastructure Canada officials didn’t respond to questions, and Nicklin couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.