Natural Infrastructure on the Canadian Prairies’ Post

There are hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and provincial grants going to natural infrastructure projects in Canada every year. Here's a breakdown of the funding landscape with a specific focus on the Prairies.

Alberta’s government is providing more than $236 million in grants to support 125 road, bridge, community airport, and water projects in small and rural communities which will support growth and create hundreds of jobs. We know this funding is critical to supporting municipalities in developing and maintaining key local transportation infrastructure to promote economic growth and improve travel for residents and industry. Under the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Project, 86 local road, bridge, and community airport projects will receive a total of $65.8 million. A total of 39 water and wastewater projects in small and rural communities across Alberta will receive $170.3 million in grants through the AMWWP and W4L. This investment will help ensure reliable access to clean drinking water and effective wastewater services to support Albertans, industry, and agriculture.

Reliable clean water is an essential component of all life and development.

In February, we launched a series of case studies which water companies will be submitting to RAPID to provide information around the current solutions within the RAPID programme.   Today we published our second case study, which focuses on Anglian Water Services and Cambridge Water's Fens Reservoir. This reservoir, which is proposed in both company's Water Resource Management Plans 2024 (WRMP24), could store up to 55 million cubic metres of water from local waterways, securing a resilient supply to meet the needs of future generations across Cambridgeshire and East Anglia.   Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are proposing to deliver the project under the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR), subject to the statutory specification process, which would see the reservoir being competitively delivered by a third party Infrastructure Provider (IP).   To learn more about RAPID's preferred commercial models for competitively tendered projects, you can read 'Enabling new water resources – a consultation on commercial arrangements' here: https://lnkd.in/eysjQnCd    Please keep an eye out for more case studies to come in the next few weeks. Read more about the case studies at: https://lnkd.in/eTzmsUma

Targeted development in sectors like water is vital for South Africa's infrastructure goals. The Construction Book 2024 reveals three expansive water projects with a total cost value of R 32.10 billion. Discover how these projects are enhancing access to clean water and enhancing our nation's water infrastructure: www.sidssa.org.za #WaterInfrastructure #EconomicGrowth #ConstructionBook24 #InfrastructureDevelopment #SouthAfricaGrowth #SustainableFuture

Thanks to RAPID for publishing this case study. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/eUDFjd-g - about the exciting planned Fens Reservoir system, being co-promoted by Anglian Water & Cambridge Water. #loveeverydrop

Thank you to Clyde & Co and 39 Essex Chambers for the RIP Localism? webinar this morning, running through the proposed amends to the NPPF. Expertly timed, compact and it packed a punch! - mandated housing targets back - the return of strategic planning - renewable projects are king and any development which contributes towards net zero should be favoured ( a new form of titled balance? ) - lowering of NSIP thresholds to speed up renewables applications - increased support for commercial uses, critical to growing our economy ( laboratories, gigafactories, data centres, digital infrastructure, freight and logistics ) - a definition of 'grey belt' (but recommend linking up with a good landscape consultant to assist with defining 'limited contribution') - reduced scope for refusing proposals on highways grounds - beauty is out and well-designed places are in Once approved the revised NPPF will take effect immediately for decision making. There are also a host of transitional arrangements for plan making, dependant on what stage the emerging plans are at currently, and whether they contain policies that are 200 dwellings higher or lower than the Local Housing Need figure (see Annex 1). The draft consultation on an updated National Planning Policy Framework commenced yesterday, and closes on 24th September. https://lnkd.in/e88S_5HZ

The recent failure of a critical water transmission line in Calgary, which severely impacted the city’s reservoir supply and water distribution, has underscored the urgent need for sustained government funding to address Canada’s deteriorating municipal infrastructure. Join Water Canada and ReNew Canada as this panel of experts discuss the lessons learned from Calgary’s crisis and explore how the industry can drive solutions to strengthen infrastructure across the country. 📅 September 19 🔗 https://bit.ly/4gdS3CB

CIH have submitted our response to the government's open consultation on changes to national planning policy to support brownfield development.   In our response we outline that we have a a pressing need for more homes in this country, and agree that developing brownfield land can help to address this. However, we point out that meeting housing need is not just about the numbers of units delivered. We must ensure that new homes are fit for purpose for people’s existing and future needs, are affordable, are well connected and meet wider climate change challenges. We are clear that the desire to develop unutilised brownfield land must not come at the expense of quality and placemaking🏘 You can find out more about the consultation ➡https://lnkd.in/exn4eB74 And read our submission to the consultation 📑➡https://lnkd.in/eFHKcHjA