ERIN – Town councillors here took a big step this week toward having a wastewater treatment system in Hillsburgh and Erin village.
At its May 5 meeting, council awarded a contract to design the wastewater treatment plant and outfall to WSP Canada Group Ltd. at a cost of $1.5 million.
The project will begin on May 13, with construction tenders going out in February.
The project is expected to be substantially completed by October 2022.
WSP scored among the top three submissions on its technical proposal and was the lowest of the three bids. The highest bid was $2.6 million.
The wastewater treatment plant is to be fully funded through development charges (DC), “so there is no financial impact to the town and no taxpayer money will be utilized to fund this work,” states the report.
“Ultimately it will be funded through DCs, but we don’t have a developer,” said councillor Michael Robins.
“We have to start spending money soon. How will we fund this?
Finance director Ursula D’Angelo acknowledged there may be a temporary cash flow issue in the beginning, but “we expect to be invoiced and will pay as the project moves on. There will be an immediate refund from developers.”
Tender submissions also included cost estimates for the construction phase of the project. That tender has not been awarded.
“We could award it to WSP if the design goes well. Or we could re-tender,” said Nick Colucci, director of infrastructure services.
“This is one more big step down the road,” said Mayor Allan Alls, before correcting himself.
“Or the first big step in going onwards.”
