Municipalities, the province and local businesses are stepping forward with a highly progressive water/sewer infrastructure development project in the Bow Valley.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Saturday (Nov. 16) to mark the start of construction for an $11 million infrastructure project to provide water and sewer mains to service the hamlet of Dead Man’s Flats.
“I’m very excited to see municipalities working together on projects like this, I think it’s an example for other groups to work together,” said Associate Minister of Wellness Dave Rodney, who was on hand to celebrate the achievement. “These are vital services of water and sewer lines, and I just appreciate all the great work at the municipal level and the people who are actually going to be turning the sod here.”
Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey, Mayor John Borrowman of Canmore and Reeve Dene Cooper of the Municipal District of Bighorn were all in attendance to celebrate the beginning of construction to pipe water approximately five kilometres east of Canmore and pump sewage five kilometres back.
“The mayor, the council of Canmore, as well as the MD; I can tell you some of these things would not have been possible without these people and this project happens to be good for both communities, the best in regional projects that you’re going to see,” said Cooper.
The large-scale project is a first of its kind collaboration between the Province of Alberta, Canmore, the MD of Bighorn and local developers and business.
“Canmore made a service agreement with the MD to have the water lines tapped into our waste water treatment plants and we’ll be supplying them with water and the treatment of sewage so it’s just a better way we can collaborate and make things happen regionally,” Borrowman said.
He agreed municipalities working together on larger scale infrastructure projects is where the future is heading. “Absolutely, we’ve been doing a lot with Banff, and when we have the opportunities we’re working with the MD on this and its a success.”
He mentioned a new recreational services contract was also signed with the MD, and continued work with the Waste Management Commission. “The more regional the collaboration, the better it is for everybody... in a sense, we’re one big community in the Bow Valley.”
“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve talked for years about water and wastewater lines connecting the communities, so it’s great the province is able to come along with some funding of $5.8 million towards it,” said Casey on the collaboration. “Having everybody on the same water and waste water systems really does make all the sense – it allows development of Dead Man’s to move forward.”
Local developer Frank Kernick is happy to see the infrastructure project move forward. Kernick is currently working towards development of the River’s Bend residential development and Limestone Valley Business Park, located in Dead Man’s Flats.
“For residential lots, we have thirty of those sold and of the 15 industrial lots there’s 10 of those sold. Now that the projects moving forward we’ll be advertising to let the public know,” said Kernick.
The River’s Bend development project is being built on 32 acres in Dead Man’s Flats, along with Limestone Business Park. The development team consists of Wade Downer, president of Canmore-based Downer Contracting, Shane Jonker, vice-president of operations for Downer Contracting, and Kernick, owner of Spring Creek Mountain Village.
