Work will be undertaken this year to repair roofs of several buildings as well as complete upgrades to sewer, water and storm drainage systems on the Olds College (OC) campus.
In total, the government is allocating $7.8 million for the improvements. Of that figure, $2.9 million was allocated by the provincial government in its 2017 capital maintenance and renewal budget. The remainder is from this year's budget.
Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt and OC president Stuart Cullum announced the work during a news conference Thursday, April 26.
Water infrastructure upgrades will include replacing out-of-date equipment such as water lines, valves and sewer lines, as well as installation of new infrastructure, like stormwater catch basins to prevent erosion, and water meters to help conserve water.
Some of the sewer and water upgrades were completed earlier. Some will be finished up this year.
Remaining work on the water system, roofs and gas lines will begin in May. Construction on the infrastructure projects is expected to be completed by 2020.
"As the frost comes out of the ground, it gives us an opportunity for us to get into that work. Essentially most of the work will be completed over the warm period of the year," Cullum told reporters.
"It's a lot of that infrastructure that can break down over time. It's getting refreshed with new infrastructure being put in," he added. "What it really helps us do is ensure that we're efficient in the use of our resources and also effective in terms of ensuring that waste is properly addressed."
"This means Olds College students will have a water system that meets the needs today, tomorrow, and for years to come," Schmidt said in a speech. "These aren't glamorous or flashy updates, but they are absolutely critical to meeting your needs, and keeping Alberta's post-secondary institutions at the top of the class."
Cullum said the work is part of annual maintenance at the college.
"Every year, especially as we get into the warm months, there's ongoing maintenance to our facilities, and so it never really stops. It just continues to be a part of our ongoing maintenance of our campus and so that's what this is about," he said.
"What the province's investment provides is just an ability to really get caught up on some of the work that, otherwise, would have to be delayed for future years. But there's continual upgrading and maintenance that happens on this campus to be sure that our facilities are kept in proper shape."
Cullum was asked if these upgrades were "top of the list" for the provincial government.
"Well, for us it was the top of the list, so the province responded accordingly," Cullum said. "These are critical needs that we need to address."
It was pointed out that the college is now over 100 years old (it was founded in 1913). Cullum was asked if that means some of the sewer and water lines could be that old. He laughed.
"Well, you know, it's a good question; I don't know the answer to that," Cullum said. "But when you're digging up lines underground it's often an indication of many years. I doubt it's a hundred years, but it's probably many decades, and so it's probably long overdue."
Schmidt said as the work will meet the needs of 3,200 Olds College students, "it's been worth every penny."
