Feds, province to be asked for more harbour cleanup cash

The three municipalities involved in cleaning up St. John's harbour said Thursday they'll ask the federal and provincial governments for more money to cover the growing cost of the project.

Officials from St. John's, Mount Pearl and Paradise met Thursday to figure out what to do about a budget that has ballooned from $93 million a decade ago to a forecast of$130 millionbefore completion.

As it stands, the municipalities are on the hook for the added costs of building a sewage treatment plant and rerouting sewage pipes through St. John's downtown core.

The cost overrunwas caused byhigher prices for labour and materials, including the rising price of steel, councillors said.

"No one is happy about the cost overrun, I mean, I can say that quite honestly. However, we all agreed that we have to work together on it," said St. John's Coun. Keith Coombs, who chaired the meeting.

The federal and provincial governments already chipped in $31 million, but the three municipalities say they will ask for a further, unspecified amount.

"It's time for them to ante up now at the federal and provincial levels, and we expect nothing less," said Mount Pearl Coun. John Walsh.

The councillors said the work will continue regardless of what happens with their request, but they warn that the municipalities' taxpayers may have to pay for the added cost if the other levels ofgovernment won't help.

The three municipalities, with a combined population of 137,000, currently pump untreated wastewater into the harbour.