Lakeshore Moves Forward with Water and Wastewater Master Plan

At the meeting on October 8, 2024, Lakeshore Council supported the 2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP), a document which will guide critical water and wastewater infrastructure investments over the next two decades.

The Master Plan, conducted by Jacobs, identifies short- and long-term strategies, initiatives, programs, and infrastructure projects needed to service Lakeshore’s communities. Overall, a financial analysis estimated the total cost over the 20 years of the plan to be $465 million when adjusted for inflation and other financial factors.

“Unfortunately, our water and wastewater systems have been chronically underfunded over the past twenty years and we’ve come to a point where it’s not a question of if, but how, we make these investments,” said Mayor Tracey Bailey. “All of us around the Council tonight understand that residents will be frustrated at the incredible costs outlined in this plan, but the time for inaction is over.”

The plan also outlines the ongoing challenges facing Lakeshore’s water and wastewater systems, including ongoing environmental and regulatory concerns in Lakeshore’s eastern communities, higher than expected population growth, as well as changes to provincial policy related to increased population density.

“It is also important to highlight that more than half of the costs of the projects outlined in the plan are not related to future growth, they are based on current needs,” Mayor Bailey added.

To fund the projects in the Water and Wastewater Master Plan, Council also directed Administration to undertake a Development Charge Study Update and a Water Wastewater Rate Study. Grant funding opportunities will also be pursued to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

“Support from other levels of government will be essential to the success of this plan, especially given the impact of changing housing targets and need to increase density,” said Mayor Bailey. “I look forward to meeting with provincial and federal officials to discuss this plan and how it can support the achievement of our shared goals.”

“We will be seeking Council’s support through Budget requests to undertake preliminary works and detailed designs to ensure key projects are shelf-ready. This approach should increase the likelihood of successful grant applications as these opportunities come forward,” said Krystal Kalbol, Corporate Leader – Operations.

The approval of the WWMP comes after extensive community and stakeholder outreach, including three public information centres which garnered feedback from residents, local landowners, and developers hosted throughout 2023 and 2024, as well as two Committee of the Whole meetings with Lakeshore Council.

Next steps:

• The Water and Wastewater Master Plan Notice of Completion will be provided to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, as required under the Environmental Assessment Act. The plan will also be posted to the project page at Lakeshore.ca/WWMP. A notice will be sent to individuals on the project contact list and those who have signed up for project updates.

• High-priority projects will be added to the 2025 Budget for Council deliberation, including a replacement of the Comber Sideroad Watermain, an Environmental Assessment for a sewage treatment facility in Stoney Point/Point-aux-Roches, and detailed design for key sanitary sewer projects.

Residents and stakeholders can find background information at Lakeshore.ca/WWMP.