Big Pipe will open up phase 1
development lands in Milton, Ontario

Map courtesy of Region of Halton and Dillon.

Ground has been broken on the first phase of Halton Region's ambitious plan to open up development in the Milton, Ontario, area in accordance with the Halton Urban Structure Program (HUSP). This program was initiated in the late 80s with the objective of planning orderly and responsible growth within the Region.

Between 1989 and 1994 numerous studies were carried out under the environmental assessment framework to ensure that all social, economic, environmental and technical issues were addressed in developing the plan, which later underwent numerous reviews and refinements.

Funding has been secured for the first phase of the plan which includes design and construction of major trunk water and wastewater mains along Regional Road 25 (formerly Highway 25) from Oakville to Milton. The trunk mains are now collectively known as "The Big Pipe", and are a $30 million component of the total $98 million infrastructure cost for the first phase.

The HUSP planning process carried out by the Region over the past ten years has led to the identification and associated phasing of developable land within the Milton and North Oakville areas. The first phase of development is referred to as the Milton Southeast Development Area. To allow this first phase of development to proceed, the plan identified a need for a new trunk water main along the Regional Road 25 corridor, from a new Zone 5 pumping station at Upper Middle Road in Oakville, to Derry Road at the south end of the existing built-up area in Milton.

In addition, the need for a trunk wastewater main within the Regional Road 25 corridor was identified to convey wastewater from the new development area in Milton, southerly beyond Upper Middle Road, for ultimate treatment at an expanded Mid-Halton wastewater treatment plant along the QEW highway. This work is being funded by the developers, not by existing taxpayers, and there will be no new debt load to the Region.

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