City Has Infrastructure Plan

Infrastructure has been on the minds of St. John’s Council, who approved a three-year infrastructure plan worth approximately $270 million in the spring.

“We certainly agree with the St. Johns’ Board of Trade that developing and maintaining the City’s infrastructure is one of the most important roles of any municipal council,” says Mayor Dennis O’Keefe. “This is why over the past year we have been developing a long-term strategy to address the infrastructure needs of the City, which was adopted by Council at its May 13 regular meeting.”

Highlights of the 2013 Capital Works budget approved in May include:

• $60 million for the Convention Centre Expansion.
• $61.2 million towards streets, sidewalks and transit infrastructure.
• $56.3 million towards water and wastewater infrastructure, including $35.7 million spent directly on replacement of aging water transmission lines.
• $47.9 million towards recreation, sport and leisure infrastructure.
• $16.8 million towards public buildings and equipment.
• $10 million to improve fire protection capacity and address flood prevention.

“The City has been able to leverage our strong credit rating to allow us to address some of the areas of greatest concern with the City providing the 72 per cent of the $270 million in funding,” says Ward 1 Councillor Danny Breen, chair of the Finance and Administration Standing Committee. “The City certainly seeks out cost-sharing programs wherever possible and both the federal and provincial governments are contributing 28 per cent towards our infrastructure spending. The City has been actively lobbying for the renewal and enhancement of current cost-sharing arrangements with both levels of government as this is a key component of ensuring we are able to meet the future needs of our growing City.”

More information on the City’s three-year capital works program can be found online at www.stjohns.ca.

For further information:
Jennifer Mills
Communications Officer
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 570-2037
Cell: (709) 690-7586
E-mail: jmills@stjohns.ca

Dennis O’Keefe
Mayor
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 576-8477
E-mail: dokeefe@stjohns.ca

Danny Breen
Ward 1 Councillor
Chair, Finance and Administration Standing Committee
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 576-2332
E-mail: dbreen@stjohns.ca