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$36 million for sewer, storm water project

A $36-million sewer and storm water project designed to provide for future growth in Red Deer and other nearby communities was announced Friday.

A $36-million sewer and storm water project designed to provide for future growth in Red Deer and other nearby communities was announced Friday.

The cost of the project, which involves building pipelines underneath the Red Deer River to connect the city’s east side with water treatment facilities on the west side, will be shared equally between the city, province and federal government.

Besides providing enough capacity for the city’s expected growth in the southeast, the infrastructure upgrading will provide a sewer link between communities south of the city and the wastewater treatment plant.

Red Deer Mayor Morris Flewwelling acknowledged that sewer lines are not glamorous projects, but they are critical to ensuring the city can grow and water quality is ensured.

“It’s not very exciting stuff, but it’s a very necessary stuff,” he said during the announcement at River Bend Golf Course. “Environmentally, it’s the right thing to do.”

Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen said the project will also create jobs and is part of the federal government’s economic growth strategy.

Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette said the project is about improving the quality of life in Central Alberta and fits in with the province’s Water for Life Strategy.