Delta, British Columbia, November 26, 2011 – Government representatives were in Delta today to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the Oliver Pump Station and four sections of the Boundary Bay dike – important milestones in a long-term plan to improve flood protection along Delta's dike network.
The Oliver Pump Station project has helped address flooding concerns across east Delta farmland, increased the energy-efficiency of the station, and enhanced nearby waterways to accommodate fish habitat. The Boundary Bay dike upgrades have increased the seaward dike face and improved shoreline protection near the Oliver Pump Station.
"These upgrades will increase the life of this pump station by 40 years, while protecting the natural fish habitat on the Fraser River,"
said the MP for Delta-Richmond East, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Our government is proud to have invested in these upgrades, which will provide flood protection to over 35,000 residences and businesses in the area."
"This is a great project, and a terrific example of partnering to best achieve a local priority,"
said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer. "The upgrades to this pump station and the foreshore improvements will improve flood protection and form an integral part of sustainable, reliable infrastructure, and are in line with the needs of this growing community."
"I am so pleased to celebrate the completion of our eco-friendly Oliver Pump Station, which is already improving the farmland of east Delta and benefiting fish habitat,"
said Delta Mayor Lois E. Jackson. "With the financial contributions made by senior levels of government and the hard work of our staff, we were able to complete the Oliver Pump Station and the Boundary Bay dike improvements on time and on budget."
These projects provide environmental benefits for the enhancement of fish and farmland – this is consistent with the goals of Delta's Corporate Climate Change initiative.
The governments of Canada and British Columbia each committed one-third of total eligible project costs, to a maximum of $2,151,665 each. The Corporation of Delta committed the balance. The total eligible project costs for all five projects are $6,455,000.
Federal support for this project came from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which helped fund key infrastructure projects across the country, and the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component, which targets projects in communities with a population of fewer than 100,000.
As part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. The federal government committed over $505 million to more than 440 projects across British Columbia under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
Although the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is now complete, the economic benefits of these projects will last for years to come.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit infrastructure.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
To download a short broadcast-quality video highlighting a few of the many successful infrastructure projects across Canada, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/video/video-eng.html.
Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Jeff Rud
Director, Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-208-4028
Mayor's office
Corporation of Delta
604-946-3210
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
