The countdown has begun. The town is ready to begin one of its most important and ambitious public works projects ever – the redevelopment of the quarter section of land that has been the site of its sewage treatment plant and four lagoons for almost the past four decades.
The redevelopment of the property in the southwest corner of town will be one of the largest and most expensive public works projects the town has ever undertaken, rivalling the recent three-year $9-million Downtown Revitalization Project.
The town's sewage treatment plant, which opened in 1977 and closed last fall when the new South Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission regional system became fully operational, is facing the full blunt force of bulldozers and jackhammers by the end of the month.
The first two phases of the three-part redevelopment plan is slated for this year and 2017 and is budgeted for $4.5 million. That cost is being covered through a provincial, federal and municipal partnership made possible last year through the town's successful application for a grant under the federal Building Canada – Small Communities Fund. The third phase will open up a good portion of the land to create a new industrial subdivision, a project that will cost many millions more and will involve new roadways and infrastructure, and new applications for additional funds to cover the extra cost.
The site has been mostly abandoned since last fall but before moving ahead the town had to get Alberta Environment approval on its concept plan. That came in February, and now with the arrival of spring, the town is ready to move forward.
Town council is expected to approve a million-dollar demolition tender on April 11. The tearing down of the old buildings at the site, just south of 37 Street, is expected to begin by the end of the month.
“We first have to get rid of the hazardous materials, the lead and asbestos in the headworks building,” said Craig Teal, the town's director of planning and operational services. “That may take up to two weeks, and once they are done and cleared the contractor for all the rest of the demolition can come and have the site, control it, manage it for their safety plan and take down all the rest of the buildings.”
This year's first phase will specifically include the demolition of all drying beds, clarifiers and digesters, as well as all associated piping and above ground outbuildings.
“The next component of the first phase is also dealing with the rerouting of the drainage channel, and then dealing with as much contaminated material in and around the plant as much as we possibly can,” said Teal, adding there will also be ground and soil testing to determine suitability for future industrial use.
Next year, the second phase will begin with the removal of about 95,000 cubic metres of sewage sludge from the lagoons, which will allow for additional testing for contaminants and then backfilling.
If all goes well in 2017 and into 2018, the town will be ready to transform the site into a new industrial subdivision, which could see the total cost of the project cost climb to $12 million for the construction of new roads and infrastructure.
In the meantime, contractors throughout the province, hit hard by the current recession, are eager to be part of the town's ambitious infrastructure project.
“We had 19 (tender) proposals submitted,” said Teal of the bids for the project's first phase. “That is the highest number we have had for some of our works since I have been here the last three to five years.”
Craig Teal
"We had 19 (tender) proposals submitted. "That is the highest number we have had for some of our works since I have been here the last three to five years."
