The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) has deemed the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment construction project as critical in order to allow the construction project to move forward during COVID-19.
“To avoid disruption of the project timeline, we are currently in the process of sending letters out to the suppliers and subcontractors, as we need to confirm with those companies that we are deeming this a critical or essential infrastructure project. And that, [this project] is in alignment with the provincial order of April 3,” said Shawn Carey, director of operations for the TBM, during a virtual committee of the whole meeting held on April 21.
As previously reported by CollingwoodToday, the TBM has been trying to move forward with plant upgrades, including replacing the headworks system, at the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant since 2014.
Earlier this year, town staff reported that the current equipment in the headworks portion of the plant was at the end of its life and was no longer operational. Staff also made note that construction needed to begin soon in order for the plant to remain in compliance with provincial regulations.
In February, just as the TBM town council approved an additional $1M to the project budget and staff were directed to award the project contract, COVID-19 closures began rolling out across the country.
On April 3, the provincial government ordered all non-essential constructions projects to stop.
The TBM operations department says the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant project is absolutely essential and needs to move forward as previously planned. Town staff had previously indicated that they would like to have shovels in the ground by May.
“We are in the process of making sure the manufactures and suppliers are aware that this is essential, that the town is deeming it to be a critical infrastructure project and we need to move forward,” Carey said.
