St. Clair Township is celebrating breaking ground on the expansion of the Courtright Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"Today is an exciting day for St. Clair Township as we mark the beginning of a project that will have a lasting impact on our community for generations to come," said Mayor Jeff Agar. "Infrastructure projects like this one may not always be the most visible, but they are among the most important investments we can make. Reliable wastewater infrastructure is the foundation that allows communities to grow responsibly."
The project is expected to double the Courtright plant's treatment capacity and make it possible for more than 600 houses to be built, as well as bring in future economic and industrial investments.
"This is critical for growth, and we know that there have been facilities interested in locating here, and were limited by the wastewater capacity. So this is really going to be build it, and they will come," said Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong Marilyn Gladu.
A celebratory ceremony was held at the site in Courtright on Tuesday, July 14.
"This project is a result of strong partnerships, thoughtful planning, and a shared vision for the future. I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to bringing this to this point, from our municipal staff and engineers to our funding partners and Council, today we celebrate more than the start of construction. We celebrate the future of St. Clair Township, a future built on smart infrastructure, sustainable growth, and continued opportunity for our residents," said Agar.
The township received $33.87 million in grant money from the provincial government to support the project, although the estimated cost is upwards of $45 million.
"I'm super glad to see this project go, and the very generous contribution from the province and, of course, the municipality, is backing it. Having had a lot of experience with projects, I know that as they go on, they become more expensive, and so the federal government needs to do their part. I'm in a better position to negotiate and stay on them until they come up with the rest of the money that we need in order to really finish this project off," said Gladu.
Sarnia-Lambton Member of Provincial Parliament Bob Bailey noted that projects like these only happen when people work together.
"I think it's a great fit for the community. It'll help with future expansion of housing here in St. Clair, and industry as well," said Bailey.
The expansion project has been several years in the making and is expected to be completed by mid-year of 2028.
