More federal funding is coming for the Saint John Airport — this time for an upgraded wastewater treatment facility.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long was on hand Thursday afternoon to announce the $941,000 in funding.
Mark Bettle, chair of the airport’s board of directors, said the facility will replace aging infrastructure with a state-of-the-art treatment process.
“The construction will provide new treatment tanks and a building to house the new process equipment,” Bettle said during the announcement.
“Once complete, the system will provide for treatment of current effluent flows with capacity for the foreseeable future.”
That capacity is crucial as the airport welcomes new airlines and continues to rebound from the pandemic.
Passenger volumes at the airport dropped to 36,000 last year as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel.
But with three airlines now serving YSJ, and two more anticipated to return later this year, officials expect passenger numbers will gradually increase to pre-pandemic levels by 2025 — if not sooner.
In anticipation of the additional passenger numbers, the airport is expanding its departure lounge by between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet and plans to offer the airport’s full menu in it.
“We do have plans to be able to grow and expand the airport and the wastewater treatment plant will be there for us through that expansion,” said Sandy Ross, president and CEO of the airport.
Construction has already begun and is expected to be completed within a year. The total price tag is estimated at around $2.8 million.
Long said the airport is a key lever of economic development for the region, connecting residents and entrepreneurs with the rest of Canada and global markets.
“Improvements to the Airport’s wastewater treatment facility are key to ensuring the facility can continue to serve more businesses and consumers in a sustainable way,” he said.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long is at @YourSJAirport this afternoon to announce $941,000 in federal funding for upgrades to the airport’s wastewater treatment facility. pic.twitter.com/yt4A3ou4pA
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) May 26, 2022
