Ottawa, New Brunswick commit two-thirds of funds for $1.13-million storm water infrastructure project

The federal and New Brunswick governments announced Wednesday they will provide nearly $760,000 for storm water infrastructure projects designed to reduce the number of properties at risk of flooding in the Village of Gagetown, N.B.

“Project work includes replacing all existing sub-surface storm drains in the community’s downtown and main tourism area, building three larger storm water outlets, and creating a diversion pond,” Infrastructure Canada said in a release. “Once complete, the new infrastructure is expected to reduce the amount of properties at risk of flooding.”

The Village of Gagetown – situated near a Canadian Army base of the same name – is on the Saint John River about 50 kilometres southeast of Fredericton.

“This upgrade will redesign and replace the municipality’s storm drain system to reduce flooding and renew transportation infrastructure in the core of the village,” Bernard LeBlanc, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Memramcook-Tantramar, stated in a release. LeBlanc was one politician on hand at a press conference at a local legion hall.

The funding announced Wednesday for the Village of Gagetown’s storm water infrastructure will be provided through the Small Communities Fund.

“The governments of Canada and New Brunswick are each contributing up to $379,547 to this project through the Small Communities Fund, representing two-thirds of the estimated $1,138,642 total project cost.”

Under the Small Communities Fund, the federal government says it will provide up to a total of $1 billion for projects in municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents. Eligible projects could include disaster mitigation infrastructure, wastewater and brownfield redevelopment.

Wednesday’s announcement in Gagetown “is among 43 others approved so far in New Brunswick for more than $59 million in joint funding under the program,” Infrastructure Canada stated. “These represent important investments in the green energy, drinking water, disaster mitigation and wastewater infrastructure needed to build stronger, more sustainable communities.”

PHOTO: Left to right: Bernard LeBlanc, Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for Memramcook-Tantramar; Karen Ludwig, federal Liberal MP for New Brunswick Southwest; and Gagetown Mayor Mike Blaney. All three were on-hand at the Royal Canadian Legion hall in the Village of Gagetown, New Brunswick to announce storm water infrastructure funding. Photo courtesy of Infrastructure Canada.