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The County of Brant is getting $35 million in provincial funding in support of its St. George Water Pollution Control Plant expansion project.

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The funding, announced by Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma on Friday, will spur construction of 1,350 homes in St. George that have been stalled by water capacity issues.

“This is great news for us,” Brant County Mayor David Bailey said at the funding announcement held in front of the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless mural in St. George on Friday. “The County of Brant is a highly desirable place to live and this funding is a crucial step in ensuring we can provide reliable, safe and sustainable wastewater treatment to support the construction of new homes and the needs of our growing community.”

Home construction in St. George has been hindered by water capacity issues, which will be addressed by expanding the water plant.

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Bouma said he’s pleased the provincial government is investing and helping to enable new home construction.

“This funding announcement is another example of Ontario’s dedication to the continued and sustained expansion of infrastructure, which is a key component to a strong and vibrant community,” Bouma said.

The expansion project is a major step forward on the most pressing need in the community and the province, Bouma said.

Bouma and Bailey were joined by several county councillors including John MacAlpine, John Bell, Jennifer Kyle and Lukas Oakley, county staff and others interested in the project.

The money is coming from the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund that includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

The government transferred an additional $275 million into the water systems fund In response to demand for more investment in municipal water and wastewater systems.

“By investing in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and connecting pipes to land, we are helping municipalities build more homes,” Kinga Surma, the provincial minister of infrastructure, said in a statement. “Homes can’t be built without connections to drinking water and wastewater.”

Vball@postmedia.com

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