On this page:
1. Project Updates
2. Staff Reports & Council Decisions
3. Public Consultation
4. Map of Project Area
5. Quarterly Progress Reports
6. Frequently Asked Questions
The 2021 Town Budget included funding for a capital project intended to make upgrades to the Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station. In May of 2022, Town Council approved a motion to increase the scope of the project to include upgrades to the Mill Street Sewage Lift Station and installation of an additional sanitary forcemain along Bay Street from Mill Street to Grey Street.
The Town’s Asset Management Plan indicates that the underground infrastructure on Bay Street in this location is in poor to very poor condition and is approaching the end of its useful life. The existing sanitary sewer and watermain are both made of asbestos cement, and both experience significant leakage issues. The installation of the secondary forcemain will involve road excavation that is likely to result in many more leaks as the ground shifts and settles. Considering that Bay Street from Mill Street to Grey Street will need to be significantly disturbed for the installation of the forcemain, this provides a great opportunity to reconstruct the entire road. This will ensure that the watermain, sewers and stormwater systems are adequate for the next 50-75 years. Addressing leaking watermains and sewers reduces the burden on both the water and wastewater systems, freeing up needed capacity and allowing more connections to current infrastructure.
Why Now?
The existing watermain and gravity sewer are approaching end of life, and a secondary forcemain is required between the Mill Street Sewage Pumping Station and the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant to handle planned growth in the community.
Staff Report OPS.25.004 is scheduled to be presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The report provides a summary of the Public Information Centre held on December 17, 2024, and seeks Council direction to proceed to final design, tender and construction based on the previously approved road cross sections. More details are available in the Staff Reports section this page.
The presentation deck and recording of the Public Information Centre held on December 17, 2024 are now available to view in the Public Meetings & Information Centres section below.
The Public Information Centre provided an opportunity for attendees to review and ask questions about the 60% design. An overview was also provided regarding the next steps in the project. A follow-up Staff Report is expected to be taken to Committee of the Whole and Council in early February of 2025. Comments and questions can be sent at any time to the Town's Project Manager at sricpc@thebluemountains.ca. All comments received prior to Monday, January 13 will be included in an attachment along with the follow-up Staff Report.
The Town has scheduled Public Information Centre (PIC) #2 for the Bay Street East Reconstruction project. The PIC will be held virtually on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will include a public comment and question period. All those interested in the project are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required.
The Town would like to advise that a contractor is scheduled to complete locates of existing Town infrastructure on Grey Street and Bay Street East utilizing a hydrovac truck on Wednesday, November 13. This work will take place mostly in the boulevard, but may involve some temporary lane restrictions. Access will be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles.
Staff Report CSOPS.24.078 is scheduled to be presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The report is seeking Council authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to execute the necessary agreements regarding the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Funding grant for the Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station, Mill Street Pumping Station and Bay Street Reconstruction. More details are available in the Staff Reports section this page.
Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey announced today that the Ontario government is investing $25,397,523.99 to enable the construction of new homes in the Town of the Blue Mountains. The funding is being delivered through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which helps municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
This funding has been awarded for upgrades to the Craigleith Sewage Lift Station and Mill Street Sewage Pump Station, including the installation of a new sanitary forcemain between the Mill Street Sewage Pump Station and the Thornbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project will significantly increase the Town's wastewater storage and pumping capacity, supporting more than 2,000 new housing units. More details can be found in the MPP's Media Release.
Council pulled Staff Report CSOPS.24.031 for further discussion at their meeting on Monday, July 15. Following discussions with staff, Council provided direction to proceed with the preliminary design of a one-way street cross section for Bay Street East and with a Town standard local urban cross section for Grey Street. More details can be found in the Staff Reports section on this page.
Staff Report CSOPS.24.031 was presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The report presented a summary of the public feedback that was heard through the first Public Information Centre, and requested Council direction to select a cross-section to allow the project team to continue with the design. More details and updates on this report can be found in the Staff Reports section on this page.
The presentation deck and recording of the Public Information Centre held on April 18, 2024 are now available to view in the Public Meetings & Information Centres section below.
The Public Information Centre provided an opportunity for attendees to review the project background including the alternative alignments that were evaluated for the forcemain, along with the preliminary design options for Bay Street East. Members of the public are encouraged to share their preferences and feedback regarding the design with the Town's Project Manager by May 3, 2024. These comments will be included in the follow-up Staff Report seeking direction from Town Council. Comments can be sent to sricpc@thebluemountains.ca.
Further updates will be expected when the project team is scheduled to present the follow-up Staff Report regarding the meeting to Committee of the Whole.
The Town has finalized the date for the first Public Information Centre (PIC) regarding the Bay Street East Reconstruction project. This PIC will be held virtually on Thursday, April 18, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. to gather input from stakeholders and residents. The meeting will include a public comment and question period. All those interested in the project are invited to attend. Pre-registration is required.
The design for the Bay Street East Reconstruction project is advancing well. The Town's consultant is currently working with a third party to provide renderings to better illustrate the various design options that will be presented for public feedback at the first Public Information Centre. This Public Information Centre is now anticipated to be scheduled for March. The Town will send out notices via mail and email once the date has been finalized.
Town staff and the Town's engineering consultant, WT Infrastructure, met with local residents on Saturday, December 2 at Bayview Park. The Town's project team was able to illustrate some of the challenges they face based on existing conditions, and residents were able to share their concerns and thoughts on different elements of the project including active transportation options, impacts to trees, traffic calming measures, road alignments and drainage and stormwater management.
The project team will consider all feedback as the preliminary design evolves, along with regulatory requirements, the Town's Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan and Engineering Standards. The first of two planned Public Information Centres is expected to be held in early 2024.
The Town has chosen a date for a Neighbourhood Meeting regarding the Bay Street East Reconstruction project. This event will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Bayview Park Pavilion to gather input from stakeholders and residents. All those interested in the project are invited to attend.
Staff Report CSOPS.23.044 was presented to Committee of the Whole seeking approval to add the engineering for the full reconstruction of Bay Street East from Mill Street to Grey Street to the project budget, along with a number of other recommendations. Committee of the Whole voted in favour of the proposal. The decision will be confirmed at the next Town Council meeting on August 28.
Staff Report CSOPS.23.019 was presented to Committee of the Whole seeking Council approval to increase the engineering budget from $2,000,000 to $2,200,000. The bids received for engineering services exceeded the previously approved budget amount, which has prompted the request.
Staff Report CSOPS.22.041 was presented to Committee of the Whole. The report asked that Town Council approve the cancellation of the "Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station Upgrades" project that was included in the 2021 Town Budget, and approve the creation of a new project titled "Mill Street Sewage Lift Station and Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station Upgrades" along with an associated budget.
Staff Report OPS.25.004 was presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The report provided a summary of the Public Information Centre held on December 17, 2024, including responses and additional background on the questions asked during the Public Information Centre. The report sought Council direction to proceed to final design, tender and construction based on the previously approved road cross sections which are:
Staff also requested a $150,000 increase to the engineering contingency budget to allow for additional communications requested by residents related to tree removal and replanting of trees adjacent parklands and on private property. This includes services of an arborist, landscape architect and designer.
These recommendations were approved by Committee of the Whole, and the direction was adopted by Council at their meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Presentation of the report to Committee of the Whole begins at the 54:40 mark of the meeting recording.
Staff Report CSOPS.24.078 was presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The report requested Council authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to execute the necessary agreements regarding the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Funding grant for the Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station, Mill Street Pumping Station and Forcemain. The Town of The Blue Mountains has been successful in receiving $25,397,523.99 from the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure for this project. Committee voted in favour of the recommendation. In a subsequent motion, Committee requested that the Town Clerk review the release of the Town's application for the HEWSF grant to Council members prior to their meeting on November 12.
Presentation of the report begins at the 1:37:20 mark of the meeting recording.
View Committee Meeting Recording
The report was pulled for further discussion at the Special Meeting of Council on November 25, 2024. Upon review and following discussion with staff, Council voted to confirm the Committee motion.
Review of the Committee motion begins at the 40:35 mark of the Council meeting recording.
Staff Report CSOPS.24.031 was presented to the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The report provided a summary of the feedback received through the first Public Information Centre, and requested direction to proceed with the design of Bay Street and Grey Street including sanitary forcemain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain with restoration to the Town Standard Local Urban 20m Right of Way with No Parking cross-section with 7.5m asphalt width, and 2.7m multiuse trail. Following a thorough discussion, Committee voted 6-0 in favour of a motion that directed staff to provide another Staff Report with the following information:
Presentation of the report to Committee of the Whole begins at the 2:10:30 mark of the meeting recording.
View Committee Meeting Recording
Council pulled the report and Committee motion for further discussion at their meeting on Monday, July 15. Following a thorough discussion, Council voted against the motion directing staff to provide an additional staff report with a complete review, including costs, of the forcemain alignment options. In a separate decision, Council voted to direct staff to proceed with:
Review of the report by Council begins at the 4:27:40 mark of the meeting recording.
Staff Report CSOPS.23.044 was presented to Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, August 15. The report requested Council approval for the following items:
Committee of the Whole voted 6-0 in favour of the recommendations. This was adopted by Council at their meeting on August 28.
Committee discussion of the report begins at the 1:11:00 mark of the meeting recording.
Staff Report CSOPS.23.019 was presented at a Special Meeting of Council on April 14. The report requested Council approval to increase the engineering services budget for the Craigleith Sewage Lift Station, Mill Street Sewage Pumping Station and Mill Street Forcemain projects. Council voted 6-0 in favour of the recommendations.
Council discussion of the report begins at the 51:20 mark of the meeting recording.
Staff Report CSOPS.22.041 was presented at a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on May 3. The report asked that Town Council approve the cancellation of the "Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station Upgrades" project that was included in the 2021 Town Budget, and approve the creation of a new project titled "Mill Street Sewage Lift Station and Craigleith Main Sewage Lift Station Upgrades." The purpose of combining these projects was to streamline the engineering process. The report also asked Council to approved a budget of $2,000,000 for engineering and contingency, with $1,000,000 coming from the Wastewater Asset Replacement Reserve Fund and $1,000,000 coming from Wastewater Development Charges. Committee voted 3-3 regarding the recommendations. The report was pulled for further discussion at the May 24 Council meeting where staff provided further background information about the projects. Council voted 5-1 in favour of the recommendations.
Discussion of the report at the Committee meeting begins at the 4:59:30 mark of the recording.
View May 3 Committee Meeting Recording
Discussion of the report at the Council meeting begins at the 3:24:00 mark of the recording.
The second Public Information Centre was held to review and answer questions about the 60% design, and to provide an overview of the next steps in the project.
| Q4 2024 | Project Scope: Within scope Project Schedule: Within schedule Project Budget: Within budget |
|---|
| Q3 2024 | Project Scope: Within scope Project Schedule: Within schedule Project Budget: Within budget |
|---|---|
| Q2 2024 | Project Scope: Within scope Project Schedule: Within schedule Project Budget: Within budget |
| Q1 2024 | Project Scope: Within scope Project Schedule: Within schedule Project Budget: Within budget |
| Q4 2023 | Project Scope: Within scope Project Schedule: Within schedule Project Budget: Within budget |
The Town has been awarded $25.3 million in funding through the HEWSF for the “Craigleith Sewage Lift Station, Mill Street Sewage Pumping Station and Bay Street Forcemain” project. Staff began preparing the grant application in February of 2024 to meet the submission deadline of April 19, 2024. At that time, this project had been approved by Council in August 2023 through Staff Report CSOPS.23.044 and included:
This funding offers a vital opportunity to modernize the underground infrastructure on Bay Street and Grey Street, rebuild the roads for the next century and ensure the ongoing safety and functionality of the Town’s wastewater and drinking water systems.
The Town has been informed that if there are any changes to the scope of the project outlined in the Town’s application – including the relocation of the forcemain from the alignment identified in the grant application – the province would be required to review and reassess whether eligibility for the funding would be maintained. Additionally, the HEWSF states that all projects must be completed by March 31, 2027 to remain eligible to receive the full funding. Failure to meet the requirements of the HEWSF will result in the project funding falling back to Reserve Funds and Development Charges.
At the Special Meeting of Council on November 25, 2024, Council confirmed authorization for the Mayor and Clerk to sign the funding agreement with the province. The next steps in the HEWSF grant process are related to project completion milestones.
The latest direction from Council came on July 15, 2024 in response to Staff Report CSOPS.24.031. At this time, Council voted directing staff to proceed with:
The design of Bay Street East including sanitary forcemain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain by undertaking a preliminary design of a one-way street cross section with an alignment which minimizes the impact to the existing streetscape while not compromising safety or the needed infrastructure. The preliminary design is to include:
The design of Grey Street beginning south from Bay Street East to Highway 26 in a complimentary manner to Bay Street East cross-section from Highway 26 to the Wastewater Treatment Plant with restoration to the Town standard local urban 20m right-of-way with no parking permitted, and a road cross-section with 7.5 metre asphalt width and 2.7 metre multi-use trail including the installation of the outfall, sanitary forcemain, storm sewer and watermain
A Staff Report is scheduled to be presented to Committee of the Whole on February 4, 2025. The report provides a summary of the Public Information Centre held on December 17, 2024, and seeks Council direction to proceed to final design, tender and construction based on the previously approved road cross sections. More details are available in the Staff Reports section this page.
Staff have been given clear direction from Council to proceed with a design that will minimize impact on the existing streetscape. In particular, the tennis courts and pavilion at Bayview Park will not be impacted during the construction or as a result of construction.
Staff are committed to ensuring the preservation of Bayview Park as much as possible while accommodating the necessary infrastructure upgrades.
Images provided in Public Information Centre #1 included an illustration of the route which showed the forcemain passing under the tennis courts and the pavilion. This was presented as a high-level schematic for illustration purposes, and should not be considered as detailed design. All infrastructure – including the forcemain – can be installed within the Town-owned 20 metre right-of-way and will not impact the tennis courts or the pavilion. Some tree removals will be required along Bayview Park within the Town’s right-of-way, however these are expected to be offset through replanting at the end of the project.
Due to the underground infrastructure required, including the service laterals to each property line, most of the 20 metre right-of-way will be required for construction. As with any capital project, staff will look for opportunities to minimize construction impacts.
Town staff initially evaluated several alternative routes for the forcemain. Bay Street East and Grey Street was chosen as the preferred route, and was approved by Council through Staff Report CSOPS.23.044 on August 15, 2023. An overview of the routes considered was provided for information purposes at Public Information Centre #1 (beginning at the 15:00 mark of the meeting recording) on April 18, 2024. The route along Bay Street East and Grey Street was chosen for the following reasons:
Bay Street East was identified through the Town’s recently completed Transportation Master Plan as an area with an opportunity for active transportation infrastructure to be added. Therefore, preliminary recommendations called for a full urban cross section in this area to align with the Town’s updated Engineering Standards. This would have seen the addition of sidewalks and streetlights to enhance pedestrian safety, along with improved stormwater management facilities to protect Georgian Bay.
At their meeting on July 15, 2024, Council voted to eliminate the dedicated pedestrian facilities from the design scope, and directed staff to proceed with a one-way design for the street.