Hydration was on everyone's mind in the 30-degree heat Wednesday afternoon, which was apt for the Town of Collingwood's official groundbreaking for the water treatment plant expansion.
The $270-million project was awarded to Kenaidan in April of this year and, once construction is finished over the next six to seven years, will add enough treated drinking water for 24,000 homes (or equivalent in businesses) in Collingwood, New Tecumseth and The Blue Mountains.
There will also be enough equipment in the building to supply drinking water to another 36,000 homes (or equivalent).
Collingwood CAO Sonya Skinner served as MC for the groundbreaking speeches and offered the town's "heartfelt gratitude" to the people who attended and to the residents of Collingwood.
"It's a truly monumental project," said Skinner. "It's a new era of secure, sustainable, residential, commercial and industrial opportunities for Collingwood and our partner municipalities for 25 years and beyond."
The project has been a long-time coming, with talk beginning in 2016 of the need to start planning for expansion. Early internal estimates suggested the project could be done for $60 million.
MPP Brian Saunderson, who attended the ground breaking, said the hot weather today reminded him of the heated council meeting on April 27, 2021 when he as mayor and a majority of council voted to implement an interim control bylaw, which froze development because of limited water capacity. While the control bylaw was in place, anyone who wanted to build in Collingwood needed an exemption through a special application process.
As the town got closer to awarding a tender for the expansion, the price ballooned to the current $270-million price tag.
Skinner acknowledged the constant ballooning of the cost of the project was one of the biggest challenges.
"We did a lot of work with the councils and with the folks that represent us in the various orders of government, with our engineering community and with our development community, all of whom were very innovative, very supportive," said Skinner.
She said the current design represents "good planning" and anticipates future growth without requiring another major construction project. Except for a new intake pipe, which will be needed in the future. The current intake pipe, which was laid in 1969, runs one-kilometre into Georgian Bay.
The Town of New Tecumseth is covering 63 per cent of the cost of the plant expansion. They'll get their share of the water (250 cubic metres a day) via a 60-kilometre pipeline connecting the two communities. New Tecumseth has been getting drinking water from Collingwood since 1999.
Mayor Richard Norcross expressed his gratitude to Collingwood and New Tecumseth staff and to MPP Saunderson and MP Terry Dowdall for late night phone calls and frequent conversations that led to the project being tendered.
"You made it happen," he said. "You made it work."
Norcross did want to get out in front of any cost-sharing discussions for the future intake pipe though.
"We're broke, we've got nothing left to give!" he joked. "We have no more money. Actually, council is taking turns on the weekends, we're doing lemonade stands."
On a more serious note, Norcross also mentioned Honda Canada's announcement of a $15.5-billion investment in its Alliston plant, which happened after the water plant expansion tender was awarded. New Tecumseth also had to freeze development because of limited water supply.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin shared the podium with her youth mayor Grace Johnson, who was there to remind the crowd of the "generational" impact of the expansion project.
"I will be almost 20 years old by the time this plant is fully complete, and I'll remember being part of this celebration for the rest of my life," said Johnson. "Thanks to everyone who made it possible."
Mayor Hamlin continued with thanks.
"It's been a collaboration," said Hamlin, thanking Collingwood and New Tecumseth town staff and councils. "I'm glad we are able to be a community that enjoys a spot on Georgian Bay and has access to this amazing water and to be able to share with the community (of New Tecumseth) with their growth and needs."
John Goffredo, president of Kenaidan was also at the groundbreaking to congratulate the town on a "great plan" and a nice-looking water treatment plant that keeps the views and greenspace around the water open to the public.
"You guys are going to get a beautiful build," said Goffredo, adding his own promise that the crew will work diligently to make sure the construction process is as seamless as possible.
The current estimated completion for the expansion project is 2029.
