Upgrades prepare Slemon Park for its next 75 years
Investing in infrastructure -
Slemon Park has been a flight school and a Canadian Forces air base over the years, and now it is the heart of Prince Edward Island’s half-billion dollar a year aerospace and manufacturing industries.
A growing client base and the demands of a global industry mean Slemon Park must update its decades-old infrastructure. This year, investments from the Canada Water and Wastewater Fund are allowing and the aerospace hub to meet modern water handling requirements.
“Most of Slemon Park's underground wastewater collection system was installed prior to – and during – World War II,” notes David Anderson, vice-president of property management for the Slemon Park Corporation.
That system consisted of a mix of clay and concrete pipes along with brick and cast concrete manholes that, if they failed, would threaten both the environment and the water system at Slemon Park.
The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are investing in communities by supporting infrastructure upgrades that communities may not be able to afford alone. Among the other community water and wastewater projects benefiting from government partnerships are Kinkora,Tignish, Souris, and North Rustico.
“Replacement of these lines is strategic for Slemon Park to ensure the reliability of service both for existing and new companies as well as protecting the environmental health of the area,” Anderson said.
The Slemon Park water system is subject to heavy demands. More than 1,000 people work at the various businesses in Slemon Park, while 700 people live in the former housing facilities of CFB Summerside.
The work happening at Slemon Park includes three distinct projects – a sewage lift station, and sewage line replacements on Aerospace Boulevard and on Larchwood Drive. The projects will cost nearly $1.2 million, with half coming from Ottawa and 25 percent each coming from the provincial government and from Slemon Park.
Work is expected to be completed this month.