A special joint meeting of the councils of Collingwood, Clearview, Town of the Blue Mountains (TOBM) and New Tecumseth is an example of regional cooperation and willingness to try new things, according to Collingwood CAO Sonja Skinner.
Bids for an expansion to Collingwood’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) have come in well over budget and according to Skinner, “This project will involve significant expenditure with big potential growth and economic benefits and consequences.”
The four councils met virtually last week, with Skinner presenting a plan that could make some capacity from the expanded WTP available to neighbouring municipalities. The current capacity of the plant is 31,100 cubic metres per day with 1250 m3 allocated to TOBM and 9500 going to New Tecumseth. Tenders have already been called for a Phase 1 expansion that would increase daily capacity to 59,000 m3 allowing for 4000 m3 per day to be sent to TOBM and 23,500 to New Tecumseth.
A subsequent expansion, likely to be substantially completed by mid-2031, could expand overall capacity to 101,000 m3 with 4,000 m3 per day available for purchase by Clearview Township.
In early 2022 the cost of the Phase 1 expansion was estimated at $121 million. However, the lowest compliant bid received in September 2023 was $212,581,172 from Kenaidan Contracting. When combined with costs for pre-ordered equipment plus engineering and construction costs not included in the tender that puts the total cost at about $270 million.
The planned Phase 1 expansion will include the facility, tankage and building to permit flexible increases in the future up to the eventual maximum of 101,000 m3 per day. Subsequent phases would upgrade pumps and disinfection processes and allow for treatment of emerging contaminants. Skinner says this flexible approach is a good way to set up for the long term, and envisioned a system with shared operating costs, excess capacity sharing and a joint water committee for operations with policy decisions remaining at the local level. Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin told the meeting, “this is a critical infrastructure project that has come in well over budget. It will require strategic and innovative approaches to funding and may require new partnerships.” Following the project overview, the four councils went in-camera for discussion of potential funding, contributions and agreements.
Clearview Township CAO John Ferguson commented that both the Collingwood WTP and the Stayner Klondike Park Well are remarkable projects, and that no decisions arose from Clearview’s in-camera session. Ferguson added, “significant funding is needed for either project. Inflation, supply chain delays and labour gaps are adding to infrastructure cost and in many instances the cost is beyond the budget of local municipalities. Generally, we are open to partnerships with other municipalities that provide a reciprocal economic benefit.”
The nearly $212,000,000 price tag in the Kenaidan bid was only guaranteed until Jan. 16.