NEW MINAS – New Minas and Kings County are looking 20 years ahead with plans for water and sewage treatment and have received funding to help with assessment costs.
The village and municipality announced the funding Oct. 14, with village deputy chair Maynard Stevens and municipal mayor Peter Muttart presenting the news alongside Kings South MLA Keith Irving.
The province has given $99,072 in funding to the joint water management project, which proposes creating a master plan for the New Minas water utility, a storm water and sanitary sewer management plan and overall asset management plan to project what capacity will be required over the next two decades – all to support future growth in New Minas.
“We build both our infrastructure services and our societal services, not only for ourselves, but also for the generations who follow us,” said Muttart at the announcement.
Stevens, who is also the chair of the village’s water commission, said the project will specifically involve analyzing water demand projections, treatment and distribution capacities, fire protection and reservoir storage.
“It’s going to look at options to support integrating active transportation into our transportation infrastructure through the inclusion of sidewalks and bike lanes on the collector roads connected to Commercial Street,” he said in his remarks.
Muttart said the project’s assessments will include 13 separate studies over two phases – “gather high-quality information regarding drinking water, sewer systems and storm water management” and “modernize planning around land use and infrastructure requirements.”
The funding, which will support the project’s first phase, was provided through the Provincial Capital Assistance Program, which contributes funds towards high-cost, priority municipal infrastructure projects.
The municipality has also contributed more than $100,000 to the project’s first phase.
This project was one of ten water management projects to receive funding. The province has provided a total of $690,000 in funding for these projects.
Province spokesperson Krista Higdon says these projects are supported because “access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment are vital for strong, healthy communities. This funding will support important municipal projects to maintain and improve these essential services for residents.”
