Trans Mountain confirms funding for Merritt

Trans Mountain and the City of Merritt have entered into a funding agreement that will see more than $950,000 invested into developing Merritt’s municipal bulk water and sanitary wastewater disposal systems.

The funds will be used for the construction, operation and maintenance of the infrastructure in order to service Trans Mountain’s worker accommodation camp during its operation, as well as serving other local bulk water and sewage disposal users.

The two sites were completed earlier this year and are now servicing Trans Mountain.

“This infrastructure will then be used to sell services to Trans Mountain and other contractors, thereby providing an additional revenue stream for the City that will assist in funding further infrastructure development and replacement,” said Merritt CAO Sean Smith.

These infrastructure agreements are in addition to local taxes, landowner compensation and a $420,000 Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the City of Merritt that will go towards funding community projects. The City of Merritt has not specified exactly where this funding will be allocated.

The Merritt camp community, located on private land near Merritt, will accommodate up to 400 people working on and supporting the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.