The Ministry of the Environment is giving Saugeen Shores the go ahead to install sanitary sewers north of the Saugeen River in Southampton.
Council received the green light in a letter from Environment Minister John Gerretsen, who says there is no need for an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA).
Mayor Mike Smith says Gerretsen reviewed requests from three residents who believed an individual EA was needed, but he ruled that the due process was followed.
Smith explains Saugeen Shores did complete a Class Environmental Assessment for the project and an individual one would be more rigorous but is only done when it’s believed something was missed or overlooked.
Smith says he is not surprised at all by the MOE’s decision.
In fact, council had already sent the project to tender and Smith expects to have all the responses in by early March.
He says they will then be able to look at the numbers and Council will then decide whether to move forward.
As of now — Council has not committed to the project.
The estimated 20 million dollar project will be covered two thirds by federal and provincial grants.