Nursing home could open on time

By Heather Killen

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

Middleton’s new 50-bed nursing home can still open on time, if plans for the new bog soon gets the nod.

Clayton MacMurtry, acting CAO, updated members of the nursing home committee last week about the efforts made to move forward into the construction phase of the project.

“The Department of Environment is reviewing GEMS’ proposal for transferring the wetland,” said MacMurtry. “They received the proposal and have 60 days to look at the proposal.”

He added that as soon as the province approves the proposal, work can begin on the footings and foundations. MacMurtry feared last month the project could be delayed by six-weeks, after an inspector noticed a section of land on the nursing home lot that appeared to be part of a wetland.

While this area wasn’t designated on Department of Natural Resources maps, MacMurtry told the committee last week that between five to six acres of the 10-acre parcel is classified as wetlands.

These swampy areas are legally protected from destruction and development, but they can be transferred to a new site if a new corresponding wetland is created elsewhere.

The Gem Health Care Group hired its own consultant to investigate the situation, and prepare the proposal for creating a new wetland in another spot. This proposal was submitted on Friday (August 15), according to MacMurtry.

The Clean Annapolis River Project has recommended the town create a wetland area at the site of the new sewer treatment plant to add another natural stage in the purification process.

Up until now, this stage wasn’t eligible for funding, but now it’s possible that new money could become available from the province and through Ducks Unlimited.

MacMurtry added that they hope to create a new wetland either in the wellfield, or near the new sewer treatment facility.

“It’s not necessarily delayed, if the Department of Environment approves the proposal,” he said.

He added that the target date for laying the foundation was September, and much of the exterior construction can still be completed by December.

If all goes well, the nursing home will open as planned in September 2009.