The Town of Watson Lake will benefit from a new sewage lift station thanks to a combined investment of more than $5.1 million from the federal and territorial governments.
The lift station will support new residential development, including 43 new Frances Avenue lots, which are currently under construction.
“Improving wastewater collection systems is an important part of improving the quality of daily life for residential areas that are developing in the North. With the new lift station in Watson Lake, the expanding community around Frances Avenue will have a more reliable and efficient wastewater collection system for years to come,” said Dr. Brendan Hanley, MP for Yukon.
Under the Frances Avenue and Land Distribution Agreement announced in 2023, the Government of Yukon will make 24 of the 43 lots available to the general public. Liard First Nation will hold title to 18 lots and the Town of Watson Lake will hold title to one. The sanitary lift station for this project will also support a second phase of future development.
“The Government of Yukon is proud to be continually investing in critical infrastructure that supports essential municipal services. This lift station is an important step in this land development project, aimed at providing more housing in the growing Town of Watson Lake. We thank the Government of Canada for their funding; together, we are investing in improving the lives of Yukoners,” said Richard Mostyn, Minister of Community Services, Government of Yukon.
The federal government is investing $2,250,000 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Yukon is investing $2,874,566.
“Ensuring that Liard First Nation is considered equitably in infrastructure development opportunities represents an important step toward achieving LFN reconciliation objectives and begins to reverse past practices of exclusion and separation,” said Chief Stephen Charlie, Liard First Nation.
Lift stations transport wastewater from their water source to their treatment area and for this community it would be the Watson Lake lagoon. Ensuring that this new development area has effective wastewater management is part of investing in stable and supportive housing for the community in the long-term. The governments of Canada and Yukon work collaboratively in promoting reconciliation by advancing projects that will increase access to housing for Liard First Nation citizens and residents of the Town of Watson Lake.
“As the Mayor of Watson Lake I would like to express our deep gratitude for the generous investment towards the new sewage lift station. This crucial infrastructure project not only enhances water treatment in our community but also signifies a dedicated step towards sustainable growth and improved quality of life for all residents. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the federal and territorial governments for their unwavering support in building a better, more resilient future for Watson Lake and the Liard First Nation communities,” said Christopher Irvin, Mayor of Watson Lake.
Featured image: (Watson Lake Chamber of Commerce)
