Moncton councillors want funding for wastewater treatment plant

Some Moncton councillors say greater Moncton shouldn't be on the hook to cover a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and that the commission overseeing the facility isn't trying hard enough to secure government funding.

Councillors Brian Hicks and Shawn Crossman spoke out against the commission's methods at the last council meeting on Dec. 7. Hicks added to his concerns on Tuesday at city hall.

"We got a letter from TransAqua in October saying that the province was only on board for a repayable loan with interest, and I was shocked when I got that letter," said Hicks.  

The provincial government funded wastewater treatment upgrades in Saint John, Fredericton and other municipalities. Hicks said he wants Moncton to receive funding, not a loan.

"I'd like to hear from them why we shouldn't be treated fairly," he said.

Hicks started digging into TransAqua emails and meeting minutes and he said he was troubled to find that a third-party communications company XYZ was hired to approach the provincial government about accessing funds for the upgrades.

"The question is why weren't the TransAqua commissioners at the board negotiating with the province," said Hicks.

But Winston Pearce, the chairman of TransAqua, said the answer is simple.

"We weren't getting anywhere ourselves," said Pearce.

Pearce says the upgrades weren't getting a lot of attention from the municipalities, which may have contributed to the province not seeing it as a priority either.

"Dieppe had it's road across the marsh, the city of Moncton had the downtown centre, there wasn't a great lot of enthusiasm for other things, but now I think we have the three municipalities behind us," said Pearce.

Commission asked province for funding

The TransAqua Commission is made up of six volunteers, two from Riverview, Moncton and Dieppe each. A $90-million upgrade is needed for the facility by 2020 to meet federal standards.

Pearce says the commission approached the provincial government a number of times, asking for funding for the upgrades, but weren't getting an answer.

Given the financial difficulties the province is having, Pearce said the commission started looking at other options, such as a possible P3 partnership, or a loan from the province.

"It's not a desirable option, but it seemed to be... that might be the only option to get it to the Federal government," said Pearce.

Pearce says TransAqua's bank account is in good shape with more than $30 million available to be put towards the upgrades. 

But he said he'd like to see the provincial government commit to some contribution, in hopes the federal government will match and funds, loan or grant.

Pearce said upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant will begin in 2016 in order to meet the 2020 deadline.

He said he hopes to get an answer from the provincial government soon, as to whether TransAqua will receive a grant, a loan, or nothing at all.

Bruce Macfarlane, a spokesperson for the Regional Development Corp. said funding from the provincial government isn't out of the question.

"This is a file that we are still looking at," Macfarlane said.