Key infrastructure must be expanded to ensure Halton is prepared for the next wave of growth. Expansions to region-wide water and wastewater infrastructure like treatment plants, pumping stations, reservoirs and trunk mains will be necessary to accommodate growth and represent billions of dollars in new investment. It is estimated that the cost of all the growth-related infrastructure needed in Halton to 2031 will be $5.2 billion, with $3 billion of this required to support residential growth. It is estimated that the total residential development charges that could be collected to 2031 amount to $2.1 billion. This means the Region will require an alternative source of financing for some of the major infrastructure required to support growth.
Historically, Halton Region has successfully partnered with the development community to help finance and deliver major infrastructure. A key to the Region’s success has been coordination with the development community and its Local Municipalities. Over the past 10 years, the Region’s approach has supported the funding of $3.5 billion of infrastructure, enabling more than 50,000 housing units in greenfield areas and supporting the growth plans of our communities. A new partnership, currently in development, would support at least another 30,000 units in greenfield areas and an initial $3.2 billion of enabling infrastructure for residential uses, with the potential for another $2 billion in expenditures to be identified in updated infrastructure master plans. This program will ensure long-term growth plans are fulfilled. The Region has done a great job to deliver infrastructure needed to support growth using the tools available and the partnerships that have been developed; however, with the significant acceleration of growth in the short term, Halton requires significant new water, wastewater and road infrastructure for its communities.
As many federal infrastructure program agreements including the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF) come to an end in 2024, it is imperative that they are renewed and strengthened to support Halton Region in responding to accelerated community growth. The Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF) is an impactful tool that allows Halton to direct infrastructure investments to where they are needed most within the community. The total Federal Canada Community-Building funding allocated to Halton for 2024 is approximately $18.1 million and will be used to support the Region’s water and wastewater state-of-good-repair capital, transportation capital and road resurfacing programs. Increased investment in infrastructure programs including ICIP and a strengthened CCBF, is necessary to allow Halton Region to advance the infrastructure needed to tackle the housing crisis. As infrastructure capacity continues to be stretched due to accelerated growth in the community, it is critical that the Federal Government partner with municipalities to fund infrastructure required to deliver housing.
The Federal Government can support increased housing supply in Halton Region by participating with the Region, the Province, and the development community to explore alternative sources of funding to deliver the significant new water, wastewater and road infrastructure necessary to support accelerated growth in Halton Region.
Some examples of key infrastructure projects necessary to meet shared housing objectives for Halton include:
- Expanding the Mid-Halton Wastewater Treatment Plant (125 ML/d to 175 ML/d) and expanding the North WWPS (to 2,000 L/s) to provide wastewater servicing to growth areas in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills ($305 million)
- Expanding the Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant to provide capacity for intensification growth in Burlington ($209 million)
- Advancing the Wastewater Pumping Station at Lower Base Line and associated forcemains to provide wastewater servicing to growth areas in Milton and Halton Hills ($276 million)
- Expanding the Burloak Water Purification Plant (from 55 to 165ML/d) to provide water supply to growth areas in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills ($195 million)