City of Powell River will apply for infrastructure grants to pay for the second phase of development in its consolidated wastewater treatment plant.
City council approved a staff request to apply to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Strategic Priorities Fund at its Thursday, May 18, meeting. According to city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig, the fund will provide up to 100 per cent of project funds.
“We feel this is a great opportunity to advance our project,” Birtig told council.
Phase two calls for the installation of sewer lines from Wildwood and Westview to Townsite, where a new consolidated plant is planned to be constructed in 2020.
Each local government in the province is able to apply for two grants of up to $6 million for infrastructure projects.
City chief administrative officer Mac Fraser said the UBCM fund is supported by federal government infrastructure funds.
“This is another example of how eager the federal government is to fund infrastructure development,” said Fraser.
Fraser said the first priority is tying Wildwood into the existing Townsite system, which BC Ministry of Environment has approved.
Birtig said the estimated costs for connecting Wildwood and Westview to Townsite are $6 million each.
Once the Wildwood line is complete it will connect into Townsite’s existing system and be ready for Tla’amin Nation to connect near the city’s northern boundary.
Meanwhile, Powell River Regional District will apply for a $2.5 million grant to construct a commercial waste transfer station as part of the Marine Avenue incinerator site closure and resource recovery centre project.
