Hebron and Starrs Road projects among infrastructure programs announced

Nine Nova Scotia communities, including two in Yarmouth County, will benefit from safer drinking water and improved storm water systems thanks to a shared investment by three levels of government.

Federal, provincial and municipal funding of $8,725,590 was announced Tuesday, Aug. 12.

In Hebron, there will be a water main extension. Each level of government – which locally refers to the Municipality of Yarmouth – is contributing $162,100 to the project to extend the Town of Yarmouth's water system to the community of Hebron. Maple Grove Education Centre, 27 households, and the municipal building will be connected to the municipal water system.

In the town of Yarmouth work will be done on a Starrs Road storm sewer. The federal and provincial levels of the government, and the town, are each contributing $196,700 to the project, which includes constructing a storm drainage system along Starrs Road to help reduce flooding.

Other communities receiving projects to improve drinking water include Digby, Middle Musquodoboit, Cornwallis Park, Truro, Bible Hill, the Municipality of Kings and Kentville.

All projects must receive federal environmental assessment approval before construction begins.

The funding is through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Building Canada Fund Communities Component.

The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a six-year, $133-million program that supports community infrastructure improvements, such as water, wastewater and solid-waste management. The Building Canada Fund Communities Component is a $111-million investment in infrastructure projects in smaller, communities across Nova Scotia, between now and 2014.