Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has approved a one-year extension to complete remediation work at Chedoke Creek in Hamilton. The city now has until Dec. 31, 2023. Work is expected to resume in the spring.
Work to begin the dredging of Chedoke Creek started in July and was paused on Aug. 18, when representatives of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) arrived on site and stated that they were exercising their treaty rights to attend the site.
After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the project safely, the city agreed to allow all contractors for the project to move to standby, and not continue to attempt dredging works until further notice.
Hamilton has entered into environmental monitoring agreements with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council. Conversations with the Huron-Wendat Nation continue with the terms of a monitoring agreement in place, and the city is expecting a signed agreement.
The project was launched under a Director’s Order by the MECP to conduct targeted dredging in Chedoke Creek by December 31, 2022. The targeted dredging will remediate the impacts of the Main/King combined sewer overflow discharge that occurred between January 2014 and July 2018, which had 24 billion litres of combined sewage discharged.
“Completing this important environmental project to restore Chedoke Creek from the damage caused by the combined sewer overflow leak is a top priority,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “The community rightfully wants this work done as soon as possible, and I will continue to work with City staff and stakeholders until a successful restoration is accomplished.”