Airport Area West Water and Wastewater Study

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to develop a plan and cost estimate for regional water and sewer infrastructure for use in future planning in the area west of the airport. Information about the cost of water and sewer infrastructure will support the future decisions around growth and development of this unserviced area. The study area boundaries include the Rural Municipality (RM) of Rosser to the north, the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport to the east, Saskatchewan Avenue to the south, and the Perimeter Highway to the west.

Background

On April 25, 2019, City Council received the Employment and Commercial Lands Study as information. The study identifies a lack of vacant serviced industrial land to accommodate forecasted growth in Winnipeg. The Airport Area West lands were identified in the study as having the potential to help address the issue and become a significant employment hub within the city.

In summer 2019, the City started work to develop a cost estimate for regional water and wastewater servicing, as the area is currently not serviced. To develop a cost estimate for future capital planning, the City developed a conceptual plan for regional water and wastewater services for the area to support growth and development. This includes plans for sewers, water mains, lift stations, and force mains.

The study area encompasses approximately 1,457 hectares (3,600 acres) of land within Winnipeg and CentrePort Canada, a tri-modal inland port shared with the RM of Rosser. It is anticipated that the lands south of CentrePort Canada Way and west of Sturgeon Access (approximately 263 hectares) will be developed as a lower-density residential neighbourhood with a small portion dedicated for mixed-use, higher density residential development. The remaining study area lands will be developed for industrial use, with commercial development nodes identified at key locations. CentrePort Canada Way (PTH 190) runs through the centre of the study area. Other major transportation connections include Sturgeon Road and Sturgeon Access.

The City met with key stakeholders in August and November 2019, to gain insight into future land use and development plans for the study area. These meetings helped establish land use and phasing assumptions and assisted in identifying future servicing demands for the area and locations for future servicing infrastructure.

This study has been guided by the following policy and background documents:

• OurWinnipeg
• CentrePort Regional Water and Wastewater Servicing Review (2012)
• City of Winnipeg Employment and Commercial Lands Study (2018)
• Inland Port Special Planning Area Regulation 48/2016 (2016)