Infrastructure Works Show Co-Operation

Since the partners first gathered to sign the original Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Works Agreement in 1994, this $220-million federal-provincial funding commitment has meant cleaner water, better sewer systems, building upgrades and street repairs in communities across the province. Yarmouth County is a prime example of the program's success.

"I think it's one of the best programs that the three levels of government have ever come up with," said Warden Richard Hurlburt of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth. "We appreciate the federal and provincial governments coming together and working with us because we know and understand what we need on the local level."

At a time of fiscal restraint, the residents of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, the Municipality of the District of Argyle and the Town of Yarmouth had 18 projects delivered to the area, infusing $7.5 million in tax dollars from all levels of government back into the county. As the program winds down, a look back over the past four years reveals just how much these initiatives have helped to bring Yarmouth's infrastructure up to standard and prepare it for future growth.

Along with some much-needed road and sidewalk upgrades, the Town of Yarmouth used Infrastructure Works funding to help boost a massive harbour cleanup and improvements to the sewer system. Two projects totalling more than $2.5 million were completed with the help of the program. One project relieved overloading of the Starr's Road sewer, and the other prevented storm water from entering and taking up valuable space in the sewage treatment plant. Thanks to co-operation on the part of local government, the latter project is benefiting more than one municipality.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth is now able to rent space in the town's treatment tank as part of a $1.8-million cleanup project currently taking place in Arcadia. Sewage run-off that has been polluting the Chebogue Marsh will now be channelled to the town's sewage treatment plant, restoring the environmental health of these wetlands for residents as well as visitors.

"The infrastructure works program has definitely helped us," said Yarmouth Mayor Charles Crosby. "We have a new $12-million sewage treatment plant and both of the sewer projects funded under the program were tied into this initiative."

The municipality took advantage of funding made available under the original Infrastructure Works agreement to help pay for this massive undertaking, and when the program was topped up in 1997 they held fast to this priority. All of the municipality's funding under the top-up program has been allotted to the Arcadia initiative.

However, this project is not just a government priority. It required a commitment from community members themselves. In a plebiscite taken in July 1997, Arcadia residents voted 73-23 for the cleanup plan, indicating that they were also willing invest in the future of the area though fees for hookup and operation.

In a further demonstration of council's dedication to pollution abatement, the municipality also targeted a second major sewer system improvement initiative under the cost-sharing agreement. A wastewater management system was created for the South Ohio area through upgraded on-site systems and a new "contour-trench" collection and treatment system.

"We are firm believers in the Infrastructure Works program," said Warden Hurlburt. "The three levels of government came together to deliver a product for the good of the people. The South Ohio and Arcadia projects allowed us to clean up what was an environmental mess, and we would never have been able to carry out these projects without the help of the program."

Warden Eugene Doucette of the Municipality of the District of Argyle also expressed enthusiasm with the results of the cost-shared program.

"Council always receives requests for projects within the community such as upgrades to fire halls and community centres. These projects are too expensive for our rural communities to achieve alone," said Warden Doucette. "With the assistance of the Canada/Nova Scotia Infrastructure Works program, we were able to raise approximately $175,000 for such projects." These included such things as access ramps, kitchens and washrooms for community facilities.

Argyle councillors also targeted health and environmental concerns through sewage collection upgrades in West Pubnico. Remedial work on the aging collection system, now under way, will not only improve the environment for area residents, but it will be of substantial benefit to the West Pubnico Historical Village and the aquaculture industry.

COMMUNITY-NEEDS INITIATIVES COUNT

Although more than 80 per cent of the Infrastructure Works funding allotted for Yarmouth County was directed at core infrastructure such as sewer, water and municipal transportation systems, some valuable community organizations also received assistance. A variety of community partners in Argyle joined with the federal and provincial governments to build the foundation for a better quality of life.

An on-site septic sewage system and washroom facilities, constructed for the community fire hall at Amirault's Hill-Hubbard Point, allowed the community to make use of the facility for meetings, training and recreational activities.

"This hall is used by two small villages. Because of the cost of this project, they would not have been able to carry it out without assistance," said Warden Doucette.

Looking back over the Infrastructure Works program, Warden Doucette said it has been more than bricks and mortar, and the valued short-term jobs for the local labour force.

"We've encouraged people to get involved," he said. "If you have a project that is 100 per cent funded, it seems that only a few get involved. But with the Infrastructure Works program, the cost is shared so it's easier to get a lot of people in the community to get involved. So it's a real community thing, and perhaps by working together they even get along even better."