The City of Kimberley officially kicked off construction of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, April 8.
The event marked a significant milestone, bringing together City of Kimberley staff, council members, media and project partners.
Mayor Don McCormick said the new facility will upgrade the city’s system, improve environmental protection and support future population growth.
“This project is more than just an upgrade that was needed for many years, but also an investment in our future. As a growing community, we now have certainty that our core infrastructure has the capacity to reliably support our growing population. We are grateful to our federal and provincial partners, along with our Ktunaxa neighbours, for their support and our project team for getting the project to this point,” said McCormick.
The project represents a major investment, with Kimberley contributing $24.1 million, the federal government more than $36 million and the province more than $30 million. Funding from senior levels of government was provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
McCormick said the wastewater treatment plant is the most significant infrastructure project in Kimberley’s history and pointed to the principles behind its progress.
“Perspective, planning, perseverance, and patience, let’s call it the four P’s , are needed to achieve our goals,” said McCormick.
Christine Boyle, minister of housing and municipal affairs, said projects like Kimberley’s wastewater treatment plant show how governments can work together to improve residents’ lives.
“People in Kimberley deserve access to infrastructure that keeps pace with the community’s growth and protects the local environment. Upgrades to this wastewater treatment plant will deliver a modern, energy-efficient facility that supports the Province’s sustainability goals. Projects like this show how all levels of government can work together to improve the lives of the people across B.C. for generations to come,” said Boyle.
Stephen Fuhr, secretary of state (defence procurement) and member of Parliament for Kelowna, said the project represents a major step forward for the community.
“By breaking ground on this project, we are taking a major step toward improving wastewater treatment and supporting a healthier community. With this federal investment, we are helping protect the St. Mary River, safeguard the surrounding environment, and support Kimberley’s growth for many years to come,” said Fuhr.
Construction of the wastewater treatment plant is expected to be completed by fall 2028.
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