Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) is soliciting proposals from consulting firms for a contract to proceed with a Sediment Investigation Program and Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment of Noel’s Pond and environs. In addition, a joint project is being initiated in conjunction with Transport Canada to undertake the decommissioning of fuel lines on the Harmon base property. A joint announcement was made today by Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and MHA – St. George’s-Stephenville East, representing Art Reid, minister responsible for NLHC, and Gerry Smith, MHA – Port au Port. It is expected that approximately $750,000 will be spent for this phase of the environmental clean-up.
Mr. Aylward said: “Since first commissioning an environmental site audit in 1995, NLHC, as management agent for the provincial portion of the former Harmon properties, has continued to take a responsible approach to managing the environmental investigation and clean-up activities of its properties.”
Further detailed environmental site assessment of Noel’s Pond water treatment plant area has been completed which included a Phase 3 field investigation and development of site remediation plans for the area. Reports indicate there is no known contamination of the water supply. “An estimated $1.5 million is scheduled to be spent on the Harmon base clean-up this year alone,” Mr. Alyward said. “While this is a significant amount, it is important for us to keep pressure on the federal government to ensure that an adequate level of funding for the clean-up is secured.”
Underground fuel line location and mapping by AGRA Earth and Environmental Limited has also been concluded. The reports have provided information to allow for the proper decommissioning of the fuel lines which is to be undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport’s work in clean-up of the airport properties.
The proposal call now being announced will select a consultant to undertake sediment sampling of Noel’s Pond and Phase 1, Environmental Site Assessment of land adjacent to the Noel’s Pond water treatment plant area and assess future risk of contamination to the water supply. NLHC will be coordinating with the Ministry of Transport for a tender to decommission (drain and degas) the abandoned fuel lines which run through much of the Harmon area and intersect airport property.
In addition to these clean-up activities, over the coming months further work is planned to review appropriate remediation options for the Noel’s Pond water treatment plant site based on the Phase 3 report. As well, a Phase 3 Environmental Site Assessment and remediation plan will be conducted for the removal of a number of underground fuel storage tanks.
NLHC will be accepting proposals at its head office located at 2 Canada Drive in St. John’s. Interested proponents are invited to contact the Technical Services Division at 724-3022 to obtain an information package which outlines the conditions and responsibilities of tender call. Tenders will be accepted up 12:00 noon, Newfoundland time, Friday, July 17, 1998.
For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone: (709) 724-3055
E-mail: releases@nlhc.nf.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) is inviting tenders for the sale of 9.8 acres (3.97 ha.) of residential property in the Maryland Drive area known as Phase I in the Town of Stephenville. Companies may bid on the raw land “as is,” with an option to bid on an additional 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) in Phase 2 and 8.1 acres (3.3 ha.) in Phase 3. A joint announcement was made today by Art Reid, minister responsible for Housing, and Kevin Aylward, MHA, St. George’s-Stephenville East.
“The proposed sale of this land will provide an excellent opportunity for many private sector developers. This tender call is keeping with government’s plan to bring forward more opportunities for the business community to become involved in the development of corporation land,” Mr. Reid said.
“The development demonstrates that the province has confidence in the Stephenville economy,” Mr. Aylward said today. “The Maryland Drive project will generate increased economic activity for the Stephenville area.”
This three-staged development, located on Maryland Drive extension and associated roads, is zoned for single or semi-detached dwellings, and comprises approximately 86 lots – 37 in Phase I, 19 in Phase 2 and 30 in Phase 3.
The successful bidder is responsible for all future development of land including provision of services such as connecting external water and sewer mains and roads and internal development of streets, sidewalks, all storm management and open space related to the development.
Bidders are required to submit with the tenders a five per cent deposit in the form of a security deposit. NLHC will be accepting tenders at its Stephenville office, located at 58 Oregon Drive. Anyone interested in submitting a tender may obtain an information package setting out the conditions of sale by contacting the sales branch, NLHC’s regional office at (709) 643-6826. Tenders will be accepted until 12:00 noon, Newfoundland time, Friday, July 3, 1998.
For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone: (709) 724-3055
E-mail: releases@nlhc.nf.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) will deliver a new Provincial Home Repair Program for low-income families involving expenditures of $14 million over the next two years. The announcement was made today by Art Reid, minister responsible for housing.
“This made in Newfoundland and Labrador program was designed by NLHC to specifically address the needs of low-income families in this province,” Mr. Reid said. “The program is most significant in that it enables clients to undertake more substantive repairs to their homes, will more than double the level of service to low-income earners and will create 650 direct seasonal jobs in the province’s construction industry over the next two years.”
The new home repair program enables NLHC to upgrade the quality of housing for 2,000 low-income families and will provide emergency repair assistance to an additional 1,400 households. Program objectives are to assist low-income homeowners in carrying out repairs to correct fire, life safety and other major deficiencies in their homes; provide accessibility modifications for persons with disabilities; enable seniors citizens to maintain independent lifestyles with appropriate modifications to their homes
and respond to the urgent repair needs of social assistance recipients.
In part, this new program has been made possible by the Social Housing Agreement signed between the federal and provincial governments last year. It allows the province flexibility in identifying its priority needs and use of funding from the agreement to help finance new programs. The increased flexibility will also enable the corporation to address home repair needs in a more responsive manner.
Grant funding of a maximum $5,000 per household is available, with additional repayable funding of a maximum $10,000 available to cover repair costs in excess of the grant, and will be available in both urban and rural areas with increases in these benefits for coastal Labrador to reflect the increased cost of construction. The existing RRAP waiting list will be used, with priority given to critical needs groups such as the disabled community, social assistance recipients and seniors requiring modifications to ensure continued occupancy of their homes.
Eligible repairs include items such as repair or replacement of deteriorated foundations, walls, plumbing, doors and windows, electrical systems, heating systems and roofs as well as modifications to accommodate persons with disabilities.
Program delivery will begin immediately and be fully underway by July.
For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone: (709) 724-3055
E-mail: releases@nlhc.nf.ca
Note to Editors:
Arthur D. Reid, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, along with Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment, will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. today (June 1) in the Media Centre. The ministers will be making an announcement having to do with a new provincial home repair program for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, aboriginals and low income families.
The Media Centre is located on the main floor, Confederation Building, East Block.
For further information, contact:
Jenny Bowring, Corporate Communications
Telephone: (709) 724-3055
E-mail: releases@nlhc.nf.ca