Nanaimo, British Columbia, October 12, 2012 – The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has received LEED Gold Certification for the 2011 retrofit, redevelopment and expansion of the Church Road Transfer Station. The facility was upgraded with Government of Canada funding to incorporate features that have dramatically reduced energy consumption, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
"With this upgrade and expansion now complete, Nanaimo region residents are benefitting from better service and reduced operating costs, while demand on the local water supply has lowered,"
said Dr. James Lunney, MP for Nanaimo-Alberni. "Our Government will continue to provide stable, predictable funding for local infrastructure improvements that create jobs and enable Vancouver Island communities to grow and prosper."
This project represents a significant step forward in the Regional District's plan to divert 75 per cent of its solid waste from the regional landfill. Project components include the design and retrofit of the Church Road Transfer Station, the construction of a new food waste transfer facility and the complete redevelopment of an existing recycling drop-off area.
"This certification was a key goal of the Regional District of Nanaimo, and we are extremely proud to achieve LEED Gold status with this facility,"
said Joe Stanhope, RDN Chairperson. "This state-of-the-art transfer station manages the collection of garbage, organics and recyclable materials in the northern area of the RDN, and is central to our long-term solid waste diversion strategy."
The $5.5-million project was completed in 2011. The RDN dedicated $2.75 million of its allocation from Canada's Gas Tax Fund to complete the project.
"This award marks an impressive achievement for the Regional District of Nanaimo and underscores the importance of the Gas Tax Fund program,"
said MLA Cantelon, on behalf of Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. "Since 2005, the province's partnership in the program has resulted in more than 1,500 vital infrastructure projects across B.C., while emphasizing environmentally sustainable solutions."
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides stable, long-term funding to local governments to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent annual investment of $2 billion per year.
The Government of Canada has engaged provinces, territories, municipalities and key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to guide the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan that will support job creation, economic growth and prosperity. We have heard that we are on the right track: there is a need for strong, sustained investment and we must continue to work together moving forward. To improve infrastructure across Canada and leverage new investment, our new long-term plan will encourage greater use of public-private partnerships, while respecting the capacity of Canadian taxpayers.
"The Church Road Transfer Station upgrade is a great example of how Canada's Gas Tax Funds are being directed towards improving local government's aging infrastructure,"
said Mary Sjostrom, President of UBCM. "UBCM is pleased to see that such federal investments are aimed at encouraging healthy, green, livable communities in British Columbia."
For additional information about investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Dennis Trudeau
General Manager of Transportation and Solid Waste Services
Regional District of Nanaimo
250-390-6565
Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-953-3677
Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free: 1-877-250-7154
