May 5, 2004, Transportation and Works committee discuss strategies to keep priority infrastructure p

NEWMARKET � York Region's Transportation and Works Committee today endorsed an action plan to ensure all necessary approvals are obtained for key sewer projects required to meet planned Regional growth forecasts.

"Any new delays in our key projects could mean lost employment opportunities for the Region and reduced municipal revenues, with the potential of ultimately impacting the standard of living within our Region beyond 2007," said Bill Fisch, Regional Chair and CEO. "This action plan is instrumental as we forge ahead with a plan of action to ensure our priority projects move forward as scheduled."

York Region has a population of over 865,000 people with a growth rate of more than 35,000 new residents annually � and continues to be one of Canada's fastest growing communities.

York Region's Master Planning process identifies priority projects necessary to meet system demands. The five priority projects identified in the 1997 wastewater Master Plan have been completed. The 1997 strategic projects have now been elevated to priority projects as part of the 2002 Master Plan update. These projects had been on schedule until recently, but satisfaction of new regulatory requirements has resulted in approval delays. Providing adequate water capacity beyond 2007 remains on track.

Providing adequate wastewater servicing capacity beyond 2007 relies on the completion of several sewer projects, including the 16^th Avenue Trunk sewer, Phase Two; 19^th Avenue trunk sewer and Lower Leslie Interceptor; and the Southeast Collector sewer. Significant delays in approvals for the 16^th Avenue project has identified the need for more effective communication with regulatory agencies regarding all critical servicing projects. This will help ensure the timely approval of the Region's identified priority projects.

Today's committee discussed initiatives to ensure that all approvals are obtained on time. Among the initiatives endorsed by committee include:

� A Chair and Mayors Task Force be created to ensure Regional concerns are communicated to all approval agencies

� An Inter-municipal Staff Liaison Team be created to communicate issues with area municipalities

"There is the potential that future growth in some municipalities could be constrained because of on-going delays with key projects," added Chair Fisch. "We wish to continue our work with all levels of government and all necessary approval agencies to ensure that does not occur."

York Region's economy exceeds the provincial economies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. Since 1996, the Region has been adding between 15,000 to 20,000 new jobs every year and has the second lowest unemployment rate of recently surveyed municipalities by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

In response to concerns raised on the 16^th Avenue project, the Region has already committed to approximately $10 million in environmental and well mitigation measures to assist with temporary construction impacts.

Please link here for a Backgrounder on Wastewater Servicing Allocation.

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, the services we offer and links to our nine area municipalities, please visit our Web site at: www.region.york.on.ca

Contact: Nancy Vosylius, Corporate Communications, York Region

- (905) 830-4444 or 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1226

- Email: nancy.vosylius@region.york.on.ca

Transportation and Works committee discuss strategies to keep priority infrastructure projects on track