The Sleepy Hollow area of Miltonvale Park will benefit from important community planning for enhanced water and wastewater infrastructure thanks to funding announced from the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island.
The community of Miltonvale Park has identified the need for an upgraded water and wastewater system in the Sleepy Hollow area. Prior to seeking the approval of residents, council will commission a comprehensive design and coordination study to assess the needs of the water and sewer project.
“Public infrastructure is vital for every community in this province, and the people of Prince Edward Island rely on municipal assets every day, including roads, water and sewage systems, and public buildings,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament for Egmont. “That’s why our government made the Gas Tax Fund permanent, so municipalities can rely on stable and predictable funding in order to meet their long-term infrastructure priorities.”
The comprehensive study will include drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for the water and sewer system, and will receive funding support from the Capacity Building Fund, a component of the Canada – Prince Edward Island Gas Tax Fund Agreement. The Gas Tax Fund provides support for infrastructure investments and capacity building efforts to help local governments achieve and maintain long-term sustainability. The total cost of this study is $48,000, with $45,000 coming from the Gas Tax Fund and the remaining $3,000 from the municipality of Miltonvale Park.
“The availability of clean drinking water and environmentally responsible waste disposal is essential to the health of Island residents,” said the Honourable Ron MacKinley, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. “This project will enable the Community of Miltonvale Park to develop plans for water and sewer improvements in the area of Sleepy Hollow that it can share with residents before deciding on the appropriate course of action.”
"The Council of Miltonvale Park is very pleased to continue working toward a goal of providing municipal water and sewer services to our residents in the Sleepy Hollow area,” said Miltonvale Park Community Chair Betty Pryor. “Without the financial support of the other levels of government, such a project would not be possible."
The Government of Canada recognizes that for municipalities to remain competitive and prosperous, they need stable long-term funding. As of April 2009, the federal Gas Tax Fund increased to $2 billion per year. Prince Edward Island will receive $88.5 million in gas tax funding between 2007 and 2014. The Government of Canada has announced that the Gas Tax Fund would become a permanent measure at $2 billion per year after 2014.
For more information on federal infrastructure investments, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. For more information on infrastructure program in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.