The Reeve of Hanover says it could be another month before a major decision is made regarding the planned regional wastewater treatment facility for the southeast. The project was first announced in December 2019. At that time, Hanover, Tache, Ritchot, and Niverville entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Cooperative, with hopes of creating a regional wastewater collection system and plant to enhance wastewater management. At the time, it was announced that the plant would be located just north of Niverville at a cost of nearly $110 million. However, the project would be contingent on nearly $80 million in provincial and federal funding. Then, in August of 2022, plans were unveiled for the facility at a funding announcement in Niverville. At the time of the announcement, the project was still expected to cost approximately $110 million, with a 25 per cent contingency. Our provincial government committed $18 million towards the work, while the federal government promised $21 million. The remaining $71 million needed to come from the four jurisdictions. In early 2024, the cooperative announced that the estimated cost of the project had grown to $190 million. Then, in March of that same year, the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) made a joint announcement regarding both the RSR, and a water treatment facility upgrade and expansion project in Brandon. CIB announced a combined loan of up to $140 million. In September of this year, RSR Board Chair Jim Funk, who is also the Reeve of Hanover, says the estimated cost for the entire project has grown to $235 million. In addition to the original members of Hanover, Tache, Ritchot, and Niverville, Funk says they have also added De Salaberry, La Broquerie and Providence University College and Seminary. According to Funk, tenders closed in early September for the first stage of the project, which is the construction of the facility itself. He notes, once that is complete, they will be tendering the underground network. "What the tenders showed is that there is good interest in the projects," says Funk, noting "multiple" tenders were submitted. However, he notes that after the tenders were reviewed, it was determined by their engineers that additional clarification was needed from the bidders before the project could be awarded. The tender documents stated that RSR could take until November 3rd to make its decision. "There is ample time to complete this process," says Funk. "We hope to make the decision prior to the November 3rd deadline in the tender documents, as we are all anxious to get this project moving." Funk points out that they will take the necessary time to make sure that the best decision is made for both the RSR and all ratepayers. Funk says their group was hoping to have some solid numbers by the end of September, as promised. However, he recognizes the magnitude of this project and says it is now just a matter of finalizing those numbers. According to Funk, construction on this project needs to start by spring of 2026, in order to meet the deadlines on the grants they have been approved for. And, though he had hoped to start later this fall, Funk says they will likely only award the tender in early November and begin construction in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, community information sessions were held last month, updating ratepayers on the project. Funk says while Hanover residents have expressed concern with the overall cost, he thinks that people understand that this is something that is necessary. "Because we do have three communities that will be needing lagoon space very soon," he says. "And if we are quoted the same quote as what our neighbours got, that would add up to $90 million." Grunthal is one of the three communities that Funk is referring to. He notes that community is a couple of years away from needing a new lagoon. Kleefeld is another community, which Funk says has needed a new lagoon for a year or two already. And finally, Funk says the third community is New Bothwell, which he says will need an expansion in order to meet the needs of growth within both their residential and business sector.