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A huge wave of frustration swept over people in Hamilton Tuesday. It’s over the toxic hotspot in Hamilton harbour known as Randle Reef — and the environmental clean-up that never seems to get started.
Randle Reef is under the waters of Hamilton Harbour in Burlington Bay at the foot of the U.S. Steel plant. A massive eight-hectare blob of toxic sludge.
It’s been an issue in Hamilton since the 1980’s.
In the 1990’s, the federal government promised 15 million dollars to clean it up.
By 2011, no clean-up, and the federal environment minister’s latest plan was on its way to 140-million-dollars with the work starting in 2014.
But now, Environment Canada says it hasn’t been able to find anyone to do the work at that price.
Chad Collins, Hamilton City Councillor: “Well, I think everyone’s shocked to learn that the budget has exceeded what all municipalities and levels of government had funded originally.”
Councillor Collins says they haven’t been told how much more money the potential builders want. but Hamilton wants off the toxic hot list.
Hamilton MPP Ted McMeekin says he hears it’s dramatically more. And whatever happens, its going to mean another delay until at least next year.
But the Bay Area Restoration Council says this is just a delay. It’s confident the project is going to go ahead on budget.”
With 140 million dollars up for grabs, it says there will be a company that wants to get the clean-up done.
Chris McLaughlin/Bay Area Restoration Council: “The community’s heard this year after year after year now. “I think that the appropriate reaction is to sigh with a certain degree of exasperation but be patient that, yes, its gong to take another year to get going.”
And Ontario Environment Minister Jim Bradley says he’s optimistic the federal government can work this out: “We look forwad to their discussions with the construction company to try to resolve this matter in a timely fashion.”
No word from the federal government on how much over budget the bids for the project are. Hamilton MP David Sweet says the federal environment minister will be meeting with the people involved to find a way to go ahead with the project within the budget of 140 million dollars.
