News Release
Harbour Project Bid Recommended to Halifax Regional Council(Monday, October 29, 2001)-- The long-awaited Harbour Solutions Project to eliminate the flow of raw sewage into Halifax Harbour came a step closer to reality today.
Halifax Regional Council received a recommendation from staff this afternoon to enter into negotiations with the Halifax Regional Environmental Partnership (HREP) to undertake the multi-million dollar environmental project.
Mayor Peter Kelly said HREP submitted a Capital bid of $262 million, which compares to the municipality's estimated or budgeted Capital Cost of $300 million.
HRM received submissions from two consortia bidding on the Harbour Solutions Project. The other bidder was the Halifax Waterworks Group (HWWG). In addition to, and for comparison purposes, Council requested staff to commission a separate, independent Reference Estimate, based on the municipality undertaking the Harbour Solutions Project itself.
The final Selection Committee Report concludes the HREP bid, following detailed analysis, was lower than both the HWWG bid *($274 million) and the HRM Reference Estimate **($271 million) in total cost (both Capital and Operating).
Mayor Kelly said the HREP consortium proposes to build three sewage treatment plants and a separate sewage collection system (including tunnelling in downtown Halifax to reduce business disruption) to collect and treat up to 180 million litres of raw sewage and other materials flowing into Halifax Harbour each day.
It is proposed the three treatment plants will be located on municipally-owned property at the corner of Barrington and Cornwallis Streets in downtown Halifax; the former Coast Guard lands in downtown Dartmouth; and a site at Hospital Point in Herring Cove.
Mayor Kelly said "To my knowledge, this is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by a municipality in the Atlantic Region. When completed, Harbour Solutions will mark the first environmental clean-up of a body of saltwater in the country."
The Mayor said the evaluation process was based on a technical, economic and financial review, with points awarded in each category for a total evaluation score. The Selection Committee included representatives of HRM staff, the Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Province and citizens-at-large.
Mayor Kelly said "Council and I are not simply looking for the cheapest price. We want to ensure maximum value for our tax dollars, minimum risk to the taxpayers, the best quality in construction and environmental protection and the greatest reliability of the system over the long haul."
Regional Council is expected to begin discussions on the recommendations of the final Harbour Solutions Report at a special Committee of the Whole session, beginning at 1:30 p.m.., next Tuesday (November 6, 2001)
* ( three plants-one in Halifax at a site located on DND land, the Dartmouth and Herring Cove sites)
** ( three plants-- using the HRM-owned site in Halifax, the Dartmouth site and the Herring Cove site)
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
