MP Pat Davidson  outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)MP Pat Davidson outside Sarnia City Hall June 16, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Sarnia

Local Wastewater Projects Receive Federal Funding

On the eve of a federal election call, the Harper government has made major funding announcements for wastewater plant upgrades in Sarnia and Petrolia.

Mayor Mike Bradley says the much needed Sarnia Sewer Upgrade Project can move forward thanks to Thursday morning's announcement by retiring Sarnia-Lambton MP Pat Davidsion. Sarnia has been approved for over $15-million for replacement of the Green St. Pump station, upgrades to the Bright's Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility and Sarnia's Water Pollution Control Centre and installation of new Bedford pumping station in the city's southend. Mike Bradley says the $45-million sewer project is vital to future development in the city and protection of the environment. [audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bradley-4.mp3"][/audio] Bradley says the provincial government will also provide 33 per-cent of the overall cost with the remainder coming from the municipality. The project is tentatively slated to begin in the spring of 2016 and be complete in 2019.

Petrolia is also receiving its largest funding allotment ever from Ottawa.

$7.1-million is being provided to cover a third of the cost of a $21.3-million upgrade and expansion of the town's Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is contingent on one-third funding the province as well.

Mayor John McCharles hopes construction can begin this fall and be complete in 2017.

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