The Mayors of Mount Pearl, Paradise and St. John’s say it is impossible to meet federal secondary wastewater requirements by 2020.
And without meeting that deadline, the municipalities face serious fines and penalties from Ottawa.
The secondary wastewater facility would be built at the Riverhead Treatment Facility on Southside Road at an estimated cost of $255-million. With the federal government’s contribution of $111-Million and the province’s contribution of $59-Million, the municipalities must cover the remaining $85-Million.
The mayors say they need until 2030 to finish the project.
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen says work could not start earlier, because the federal government did not advise how much money it would be contributing until late last year. He says once the commitment is in place, then you start the planning. The problem, says Breen, is that they were basing their commitment on a lower number, meaning the municipalities were already starting $30-million behind.
Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker says this situation is not unique to metro. He says many communities across the province are experiencing the same thing.