The province is giving nearly $3 million to the Region of Waterloo so it can redesign and upgrade a well house on Dianne Avenue cul-de-sac to pump drinking water to 2,660 new homes on Cambridge's west side.
The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help
municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
“Solving the problem of access to housing must begin with laying the proper foundation,” said MPP Mike Harris, Kitchener-Conestoga, in a press release. “Critical infrastructure investments like these is how our government is unlocking opportunities for developers to build more homes in our community.”
The city's tender for G4 and G4A Well House Upgrades at 37 Dianne Ave. was awarded to Stantec Consulting Inc. last year.
The government is also allocating an additional $250 million and accepting a second round of applications through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing the province’s total investment in the fund to $1.2 billion.
“By investing in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and connecting pipes to land, we are helping municipalities build more homes,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, in the release.
“Homes can’t be built without connections to drinking water and wastewater.”
In this year’s budget, Ontario announced more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding through the $825 million Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the $1 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, in addition to funding announced previously through the province’s Building Faster Fund.
In response to the significant demand for investments in water and wastewater infrastructure to enable the construction of more homes, and after consulting with municipalities, the province is transferring $275 million from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund in order to meet this demand. In addition, the $120 million from the Building Faster Fund that was reserved for small, rural and northern communities is being flowed to these communities through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.
“The Region of Waterloo is building the critical infrastructure needed for growth in every corner of our community. It’s not just about building new homes, it’s about ensuring they can be serviced and connect to essential water and wastewater infrastructure,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman in the release.
“We thank the province of Ontario for supporting us in this project as we work together to become one-million ready in Waterloo Region.”
