Today, the Town of Prescott and the Townships of Augusta and Edwardsburgh Cardinal announced a joint, $38-million application to the provincial government’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF).

Together, the municipalities are hoping to secure investments to expand water and wastewater services across the three communities. The expansion will free up capacity to add up to 1,550 new homes in Prescott and Augusta and will improve water and wastewater services for residents in Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

“The Town of Prescott is pleased to partner with our neighbours in Augusta and Edwardsburgh Cardinal to improve water and wastewater services across our municipalities. This funding is critical to building much-needed housing, as identified in our joint land development study,” said Town of Prescott Mayor Gauri Shankar. “I am proud of the ongoing spirit of collaboration amongst our communities to support growth across South Grenville.”

The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund provides 73 per cent funding for eligible shovel-ready water and wastewater expansion projects that support future growth and housing development.
The joint project has two main components:

• $17.4 million to expand capacity at Prescott’s wastewater treatment plant, pumping stations and forced main to accommodate housing and economic growth in all three communities.
• $20.5 million to expand water and sewer services along County Road 2 into Augusta.

If successful, the three communities will receive just over $27.7 million in funding. The remaining $10.2 million will be funded municipally and through other revenue sources created by growth.

The Province will announce the projects it will fund by summer 2024 with project start dates set for September 2024. To be shovel ready, preliminary environmental assessments and design work is underway.

Quick facts

• The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is a three-year, $825-million provincial investment to help municipalities repair, rehabilitate, and expand critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
• HEWSF is a joint funding program where the Province funds up to 73 per cent of eligible projects costs up to $35 million, and municipalities are required to fund the remaining 27 per cent, either through revenue sources created by growth or by stacking eligible funding programs.
• The program seeks to fund projects that will unlock more housing opportunities, support the province’s growing population, protect communities by providing access to municipal water and wastewater services, and enhance economic growth.
• Projects must be shovel ready, with a project start date of no later than September 30, 2024, and a project completion date of March 31, 2027.
• Prior to pursuing funding, Augusta and Prescott undertook a joint study to identify where and how much land was needed for potential residential, commercial, and industrial development. It also determined the water and wastewater capacity needed to support this development.

Quotes

“With the shortage of affordable housing and rentals in our three municipalities, this funding is critical to meet our needs now and into the future. Our communities are appealing to live in and close to trade corridors. We cannot build more housing and support growth without water and wastewater infrastructure in place. This is a giant step for the Township of Augusta as well as our partnering municipalities.”
-Mayor Jeff Shaver, Township of Augusta

“This is a fantastic example of how collaboration can benefit all residents of our greater area. For Edwardsburgh-Cardinal residents it means the ability to secure additional system capacity helping to further economic development in our township. We are excited for the opportunities that may come.”
-Mayor Tory Deschamps, Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal

For more information

Matthew Armstrong, Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Prescott
360 Dibble Street West, Prescott, ON. K0E 1T0
613-925-2812 Ext. 6220
marmstrong@prescott.ca