Liberals drop $4M for W&S on Harbour Grace in pre-election announcement

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

One of the Liberal Party’s pre-election funding announcements included $4 million for a water and sewer project on the south side of Harbour Grace, with half the money coming from Ottawa.

The Province’s share will be 40 per cent of the borrowing, with the Town borrowing the rest.

The announcement was made September 4 at the at the Admiral’s Marina by Harbour Grace-Port de Grave MHA Pam Parsons, who is running for re-election in the district.

The money is coming from a 10-year funding agreement between Newfoundland and Ottawa signed this past March.

“This is aimed at existing municipal infrastructure needs and those associated with future housing developments,” said Parsons, who is facing a challenge this election from PC Candidate and former Bay Roberts Mayor Walter Yetman. “The initiative is focused on municipal infrastructure projects that preserve existing capacity or increase reliability and access to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste systems to support current and future populations.” 

Parsons said the residents of the southside made it clear how important it was to then to get  water and sewer when she was first elected MHA a decade ago. 

“The project entails the upgrade of 29 homes, to start, between the Conception Bay Highway and Hibbs Road from private wells and septic systems to municipal water and sewer services” said Parsons. “It includes the installation of water, sewer, and stormwater pipes, two lift stations, along with fire hydrants… We all know what we all endured this summer — our neighbours on the North Shore, what they’ve gone through — and how important it is to have this infrastructure in place for the safety of our residents in our communities.”

Parsons reiterated this is only the first phase of the project. 

“As we know, these are municipal projects, of course, that the Town will outline in their priorities,” she said. “And again, it’s phase one. We do know this will take quite some time because, I think everyone can agree with me here, especially residents on the southside, that we want to see water and wastewater for the entire community here on the southside of Harbour Grace.” 

Parsons said that, as MHA, she is committed to working with the Town to make that happen.

Mayor Don Coombs, who is also running for re-election, in his case in the October 2 municipal election against councillor and former mayoral candidate Rex Barnes, thanked the members of this past council for adding the southside development to the Town’s 10-year strategic plan. He also thanked Parsons and Avalon MP Paul Connors. 

“Everybody wants a million-dollar view,” said Coombs. “Southside has the million-dollar view. And if we can get this going and see development up here, it’s amazing.”