Brockville seeks approval for up to $9.2M share of Centeen Park pump station project

Brockville City Council will decide at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 whether to approve up to $9.2 million in municipal funding for the long-planned upgrade of the Centeen Park Main Pump Station, a project that has been more than a decade in the making.

A new staff report, prepared by Peter Raabe, director of engineering and infrastructure services, and
Lynda Ferguson, director of finance and IT services, recommends council allocate the city’s share of the construction costs through a combination of its wastewater reserve and debt financing.

As previously reported, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Steve Clark shared on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 that the municipality had secured $24.5 million in provincial funding to renovate the aging Centeen Main Pumping Station.

The funding was finalized through the Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS), under the Provincial Ministry of Housing Programs (PMHP) , which supports municipalities in upgrading water, wastewater, stormwater and flood protection infrastructure. The funding is specifically targeted toward facilities that have been in operation since the 1960s.

According to the staff report, the total eligible cost of the highly-anticipated project is estimated at approximately $33.7 million. Under the provincial program, the province is expected to contribute up to $23.2 million, covering roughly 73 per cent of eligible costs. The city would then be responsible for the remaining 27 percent— or the equivalent of about $9.1 million— as well as all other non-eligible expenses.

According to the report, ineligible costs, including HST, will increase Brockville’s share to approximately $9.15 million, which staff are now seeking approval for to finalize the project costs.

City staff recommend using a combination of Wastewater Reserve funds and debt financing to cover its portion of the project while preserving some financial flexibility. However, Council approval is required under the city’s budgetary control and procurement policies before staff can proceed with the proposed funding plan.

The report notes the Wastewater Reserve is expected to have a balance of approximately $5.4 million by the end of 2026. The 2026 wastewater budget included a $400,000 contribution to the wastewater
reserve, meaning any debt payment of less than $400,000 will have no effect on rates.

“It is anticipated that the specific details and allocation of funding sources will be determined upon the completion of construction, once the final project costs and the city’s share are known,” explains the report.

The motion and subsequent report is expected to be discussed by Council at their meeting tomorrow evening.