Paradise water and sewer tenders come in underbudget

By Mark Squibb

Two water and sewer projects approved by the Town of Paradise have come in under budget, although the Town will not reap any particular benefit as the projects had been funded by the provincial government.
Council approved installation of 100 metres of both water and sewer main, connections to two properties, hydrants, culverts, upgraded ditching, new asphalt, and the addition of a new turning circle along Bay View Heights, and installation of 500 metres of watermain, 300 metres of sewer main, connections to three properties, new hydrants, culverts, upgraded ditches, and a new asphalt and turning circle along Drovers Road.
Five companies bids on the Bay View Heights job. Mercer’s Paving submitted the lowest bid, $395,178, plus HST. The project is cost shared with the provincial government to the tune of $529,564, plus HST. The engineering contract is valued at $76,588, and for a total cost of $471,766, plus HST, leaving a surplus of $57,797.
Meanwhile, the Town received six bids for the work along Dover’s Road. Precision Excavation submitted the lowest tender price of $1.1 million, plus HST. The project is cost shared to the tune of $1.5 million. Engineering costs are valued at $126,945, plus HST, and construction costs are $1.1 million, for a total of $1.2 million, plus HST.
Councillor Glen Carew said he was happy to see two more streets on the Town’s priority list in the queue to receive services. He added that seeing both projects had come in underbudget, he had spoken with Town staff regarding whether the extra money could be shifted to other, similar projects.
The answer, said Carew, is that the Town could apply to the province to have the funds reallocated, but that such requests are not always successful.
Councillor Deborah Quilty also applauded the motion.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m glad to see we’re getting to the very end of that priority list that we set many years ago,” said Quilty.