Woodlands residents had another chance to voice their opinions about the RM of Woodlands’ proposal to borrow $2.235 million to pay for construction of a new reverse osmosis water treatment plan, as well as new water supply reservoirs for Stonewall and Warren, new supply wells and a water supply pipeline from Stonewall to Warren.
On Sept. 11, the RM held a public hearing to correct a procedural error since a previous meeting held in April was advertised as a public meeting rather than a public hearing.
“Under the Municipal Act, municipalities are required to hold a public hearing for proposed borrowing bylaws so that residents have an opportunity to learn about it and voice their opinions,” explained CAO Kaitlyn Griffith. “While we conducted our April public meeting in the same fashion as a hearing, it was not advertised as such and it was not brought forward in the 2025 financial plan public hearing,”
To ensure compliancy with the Municipal Act and transparency for residents, the RM conducted a new public hearing on Sept. 11 to deliver the same information. No new information was presented and no changes were made to the borrowing application or borrowing proposal.
At the same time, there won’t be an impact on the RM’s 2025 budget or tax levies.
“The 2025 budget has already been passed and tax levies determined, so there can be no impact on the 2025 tax levies at this time. The proposal is that the portion of the RM’s contribution that will be obtained by borrowing will be repaid through utility rates rather than through tax levies,” Griffith said.
“As with any project, estimates are simply that — estimates. We won’t know the actual costs until the project is tendered. However, Stantec Consulting has been carefully monitoring costs of similar projects to provide us with the most accurate estimates possible. Additionally, we include a contingency in our estimates to help cover any shortfalls.”
The Warren reservoir is over the recommended storage capacity and requires imminent expansion or reconstruction, she added.
“The approved federal and provincial funding enables the RM to make necessary improvements to our infrastructure, while also improving water quality for residents, at a much lower cost than completing these improvements on our own,” she said.
This $33-million project has been approved for funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
“After additional contributions from the Manitoba Water Services Board and the Town of Stonewall portion of the project, the RM of Woodlands’ share is approximately $4.5 million,” Griffith said.
“Council considered many different options to fund the RM’s portion of the project and ultimately decided that a combination of borrowing and contribution from reserve accounts is the best choice.”
Three people attended the Sept. 11 public hearing, with one signed in as “in favour” and two as “neutral/unsure.” One attendee expressed some concerns about the project.
The next step is for council to consider first reading of the bylaw again, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 14. After the first reading, the RM of Woodlands will submit an application to the Municipal Board for approval.
Pending approval of the borrowing, the partners hope to tender the project and break ground in 2026, with completion in the following two to three years.
Coun. Darryl Langrell stressed the importance of the Stonewall-Woodlands regional water project for the communities — as well as the need to provide some clarity on the initiative.
“This project is fundamentally about renewing and replacing outdated water infrastructure to ensure that both the Town of Stonewall and the RM of Woodlands have a reliable and sufficient water supply — not just for today but for generations to come,” Langrell told the Tribune.
“Our communities are growing, and with that growth comes the need for sustainable infrastructure that supports development.”
This initiative has been in development for over seven years, with careful planning and collaboration between both municipalities, Manitoba Water Services Board and experienced professional engineers, he added.
“It is a long-term investment in our future, and abandoning it now would mean losing the majority of the funding that current and previous councils have worked hard to secure,” he said.
“Even if we were to walk away, both municipalities would still be required to develop new water systems — likely at a much higher cost.”
At the same time, he acknowledged some public concern about the reverse osmosis component of the project.
“I want to be clear: reverse osmosis is a very small part of the overall plan — about eight per cent. It is included as the treatment method because it is the preferred standard for many municipalities and will provide the highest quality water for our residents,” Langrell said.
“We have explored several treatment options, including chlorination, UV treatment, lime ash soda, ion exchange and reverse osmosis. After thorough evaluation, reverse osmosis stands out as the most effective and sustainable solution.”
He also noted that misinformation is circulating about the project.
“I’ve spoken with many residents, and once they understand the full scope and purpose of the initiative, they are supportive,” he said.
“I encourage everyone to seek accurate information and reach out with questions. This is a project that will benefit all of us, and your understanding and support are vital.”rowing for regional water project
