For Immediate Release: October 25, 2016
Last month, the Stratford Town Council voted to proceed to build a new enclosed Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) sewer treatment plant on the site of the existing plant. After analyzing the options and consulting with residents, Council felt that financially, environmentally and operationally this was the best option in the interest of the Town of Stratford. The two main concerns of residents and Council regarding the option of pumping the sewer to an upgraded Charlottetown plant are the added cost and the loss of control over decision making, which could also impact the cost and/or the potential growth of the town.
Stratford notified the province of its preferred option in order to access funding through the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, which is contingent on a partnership between all three levels of government. The province, in a letter from Premier MacLauchlan, has indicated that it does not support Council's decision and would prefer to see the Town of Stratford pump their sewer to an upgraded Charlottetown Pollution Control Plant. In response, the Town of Stratford has requested a meeting with the Premier to express the concerns of Council and has indicated that, for Council to agree, the province must overcome the two main concerns of residents and Council, namely cost and control.
"At this time it remains the decision of Council to proceed with our own plant in Stratford," stated Mayor David Dunphy. "However given that it requires a partnership between all three levels of government, we need the Province of PEI to provide funding in order for it to proceed. We are waiting for the province to either approve the funding for our own plant or make a proposal to pump the sewer to an upgraded Charlottetown plant that addresses the concerns of residents and Council."
The Town of Stratford is prepared to issue a Request for Proposals for the design of the plant as soon as the infrastructure funding agreement for the project is in place with the intention that work would begin in the spring.
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For more information please contact:
Wendy Watts, Community Engagement Coordinator
Town of Stratford
T: (902) 569-6921
E: [email protected]