The District of Lillooet will receive more than half a million dollars to tackle ongoing problems with its sewage treatment plant and Town Creek storm drain system.
Mayor Dennis Bontron said July 31 the municipality is expected to receive $541,362 from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District's Tier 2 Gas Tax Funding. The total amount of gas tax funding available to the SLRD in this round of funding is $1,813,362. The mayor announced the new funding at the beginning of the July 31 community water meeting.
He said $300,000 will be allocated to a wastewater treatment plant upgrade project, while the Town Creek Storm Water Upgrade project will receive $241,362.
The mayor said regional gas tax funding had previously been predominantly spent in the southern SLRD.
“We've been working on that, and I'm pleased to make this announcement,” Bontron stated.
Chief Administrative Officer Grant Loyer later told the News the SLRD received approximately $1.2 million in gas tax funding in 2008, but Lillooet “didn't see a dime of that money.”
He said Lillooet would have to present a synopsis of its project proposals by Sept. 30 and submit the information to the SLRD before the $541,362 can be transferred to the municipality.
“They're only pieces (of an overall project),” said Loyer. “We're going to have to come up with more money for the wastewater plant and for drainage, but this is a start.”
Mayor Bontron also announced July 31 the District would receive $70,000 from the provincial government Brownfields program to assist in rehabilitation plans for the former District land fill near the Old Bridge.
