Major infrastructure-funding announcement

Politicians and local dignitaries gathered at the Centre Falmouth Hall last week for a joint infrastructure-funding announcement.

Residents of Falmouth, Windsor and Belliveaus Cove, Claire District, received some good news regarding funding for much-needed water and sewer upgrades. The $918,962 funding announcement will be divided among the three municipal units, with Falmouth receiving the lion’s share, or $ 730,000, for improvements to the Falmouth sewage treatment facility.

West Hants Warden Richard Dauphinee introduced the group and said he is always happy to get news of funding for the area. Warden Dauphinee said the funding would be used to expand the aging Falmouth sewage treatment plant, which was built in 1973 and has been operating at or near full capacity for years. Total cost estimates for the project, to be completed in three phases, will be more than one million dollars Warden Dauphinee said. “This will put our community in compliance and allow the community to expand. With the recent Windsor Elms announcing they will be building here in Falmouth the plans for infrastructure expansion are coming at the right time as our aging population continues to grow.”

Warden Dauphinee said other areas have been asking for help and noted the municipality applied for funding last year. “It gets to be a competition but all municipal units need money and taxpayers cannot do these projects on their own.”

More than 500 Falmouth houses will have their wastewater treated to a higher quality while more than 120 homes currently connected to the municipal water services will have improved drinking water.

The Municipality of Claire will extend the Belliveaus Cove sewer system and will permit an additional 10 households to hook up to the municipal wastewater treatment system. The Town of Windsor will upgrade their water storage standpipe.

On hand for the announcement, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Jamie Muir said that “community infrastructure, such as improving our drinking water and wastewater systems, is a priority for government. We are committed to providing a high quality of life for all our citizens and protecting the environment and honing our green commitment.”

MP Gerald Keddy, who is Parliamentary Secretary to ACOA Minister MP Peter MacKay, said, “the government of Canada is getting things done for the people of Falmouth, Windsor and Belliveaus Cove. By investing in infrastructure, our government is supporting a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and more prosperous, safer communities.”

Keddy pointed out that “strong, healthy communities need strong infrastructure and by working together we can accomplish a great deal and improving Canada’s infrastructure is an important part of our Speech to the Throne.” He acknowledged assistance from ACOA and said the agency’s mandate is to, “build a quality of life that’s second to none.”