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Grant will help with asset management

Village of Ashcroft receives a Gas Tax Fund grant that will enable it to start an Asset Management plan.

Barbara Roden

The Journal

The Village of Ashcroft has received a grant of $48,700 from the Government of Canada’s Gas Tax Fund (GTF) Strategic Priorities program. It is one of 57 new infrastructure projects to receive funding under the program, out of 222 applications province-wide.

The funding will be used to develop an outline for an Infrastructure Master Plan which revolves around achieving a consistent and sustainable program for the investment and management of infrastructure components in an environmentally, socially, and economically responsible manner,” says Chief Administrative Officer Michelle Allen.

The provincial government is placing increased emphasis on asset management, which involves local governments undertaking a thorough assessment of the physical infrastructure they own. This includes, but is not limited to, civic facilities, parks, water and wastewater systems, and drainage and flood protection systems.

The assessment allows local governments to understand the long-term costs of providing services and the infrastructure required to deliver those services. By being proactive with asset management, rather than reacting to sudden needs for repair and replacement, governments can better manage their infrastructure, resulting in fewer service disruptions and reduced life cycle costs.

“This is the first step towards the complete asset management plan,” says Allen, “and we’re grateful for receiving this funding from the Strategic Priorities Fund.”