The new hospital development slated for a piece of land at Kenmount Crossing will require the construction of a new water tower at a cost the Opposition says could be in the range of $15 million – $20 million.

The revelation was made during Question Period in the house on Thursday.

Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham questioned the Transportation and Works minister about the cost of the land and required development.

Wakeham says a portion of the land purchased by government was the same land sold by government just eight years ago.

The selling price at that time was $84,000 an acre, but the buying price was $350,000 an acre. While Minister Fred Hutton says that’s due to rising real estate costs and the infrastructure already laid in the area, Wakeham was having none of it.

The Opposition also learned that a new water tower is required, another expense to the public purse.

“We’ve been told,” said Wakeham, “that it’s actually going to require a new water tower to be built on Kenmount Road, costing 15 to 20 million dollars that will be required to provide water to this hospital site. I ask the minister, can he confirm this?”

“Paradise actually (requires) it, in order to unlock that other land that’s up there and to make it more usable for people who want to build homes, to expand businesses as the city continues to grow out,” said Hutton.

“We have to have a water tower in order to bring water in. The actual cost is still being worked out.”