New sewage treatment plant work commences in Blyth
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
On June 8, North Huron celebrated a milestone of municipal infrastructure with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the commencement of construction of a new sewage treatment facility in Blyth. The project has been made possible with an unexpected boon of over $3 million in funding from the provincial government announced in January.
“It is a big pleasure to be here on behalf of the township of North Huron, celebrating a big occasion and a big project,” Chief Administrative Officer Nelson Santos announced at the groundbreaking. “It is an honour to be a guest introducer today for all of the important folks who helped make this project a reality. It’s an important investment in a community that is growing - we’re seeing a tremendous investment in tourism, as well as infrastructure. Today, we’re celebrating infrastructure, celebrating the Blyth water treatment plant coming online, into the modern times and services.”
Reeve Paul Heffer thanked attendees and acknowledged the provincial support that helped make the project possible. “On behalf of North Huron Council - thank you to everyone for coming out today, on this very special occasion. I want to thank MPP Lisa Thompson for the cheque that we’re receiving for this big, big project. We really appreciate the help… we’re in due need of this.”
The plant, operated under the oversight of Veolia Water, is touted as a project that will significantly increase North Huron’s development capacity. “The investment in the Blyth Sewage Treatment Plant, and the restructuring of it, both represents new growth, and also addresses environmental impact,” Santos pointed out. “We’re very excited about all the work that’s being conducted here, with Veolia’s oversight.”
MPP Lisa Thompson attended the groundbreaking, and took the opportunity to highlight the collaboration that brought the project to fruition. “It is a pleasure to make this official,” she declared. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when multiple layers of government can work well together. What we’re seeing here is co-operation to ensure that all of rural Ontario is thriving, including the municipality of North Huron…. This is what we want to see all across the province of Ontario: every community thriving. But that takes leadership, and that leadership is evident here in North Huron.”
Director of Public Works and Facilities Kevin Watson also spoke at the ceremony, and pointed out that the funding arrived in the nick of time. “Everybody that knows me knows I’m always smiling, but this really put a smile on our faces, when the government of Ontario decided to invest in Blyth,” Watson said. “It was a great place to put some money. It was a timely time to give us the money, as our old plant went into demise about a year and a half ago.”
If all goes according to plan, the new plant will be up and running by November.