Ontario kicks in $23M for sewer upgrade to spur London’s downtown growth | CBC News

The Ontario government will kick in $23 million in infrastructure money for a City of London project that will expand sewer capacity needed for large housing projects in the downtown core.

Premier Doug Ford and Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma made the announcement Monday at London city hall. 

The money will cover 73 per cent of the cost to replace 175 metres of sanitary sewers under the Thames River. The pipe, which is now almost 100 years old, will be replaced next year, with crews set to dig below the Forks of the Thames River to make the connection. 

The pipe to be replaced carries waste water from the downtown core to the trunk line that feeds into the Greenway Treatment plant. 

Ford said the money will help London build new infrastructure needed to support the growth.   

“London is one of the hottest cities right now in all of Ontario when it comes to manufacturing jobs,” said Ford. “It’s going to support London’s growing population and the economic growth taking place across the region. It’s so important that we get shovels in the ground in every part of our province.” 

The need to expand sewer capacity in downtown London came up earlier this month regarding a proposal to build more than 1,000 rental units in two towers at the corner of York and Wellington Streets. 

It was approved by council’s planning committee, but with a holding provision that will delay the application for at least a year until the sewer line can be upgraded. 

A representative of the developer said the delay is unfortunate given the dire need for housing in London.

Ashley Rammeloo, the city’s director of wastewater, was at Monday’s funding announcement and said while the pipe was already due for replacement, the plan now is to also enhance the capacity by installing multiple connections under the river. 

She also said the provincial money will save some money for London taxpayers, who are already facing a steep property tax increase over the next four years. 

“This is great for our rate-payers because the provincial funding will offset some of those costs.”