Federal government to spend $17.1M on water infrastructure in Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Drinking water is poured into a glass from a faucet in North Vancouver, Tuesday, July, 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

The federal government is spending $17.1 million to improve water infrastructure in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF).

The funding will go towards two projects: the development of student, senior and affordable housing at the former Tartan Downs racetrack in Sydney, and a new sustainable drinking water supply for Cape Breton University.

“This investment is essential for the development of much-needed housing in our municipality. Ensuring our water and wastewater services meet current needs while allowing for future growth will help our communities for years to come,” said Cecil Clarke, mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, in a news release from the federal government.

The money designated for the Tartan Downs location will be used to support the installation of a new water main, sanitary sewer, stormwater piping, and stormwater retention pond.

“The project will ensure the area has adequate water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater protections in place to support the immediate development of 145 housing units and a full-scale development of 600 new housing units in the next four to five years,” reads the release.

The sustainable drinking water supply project for Cape Breton University is also meant to supply drinking water to the neighbouring Tanglewood subdivision development.

“These projects will establish the water infrastructure that is key to supporting hundreds of new housing units in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The federal government is committed to solving the housing crisis by investing in projects that make it possible to get more homes built,” said Jamie Battiste, member of Parliament for Sydney–Victoria.

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