The RM of Grahamdale’s Faulkner Waste Disposal Grounds expansion project is moving into the planning stage.
In 2024, the Province of Manitoba approved a $125,000 grant under the Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities fund to support the expansion. The Faulkner site services multiple communities within the RM, including Steep Rock.
Devan McCoubrey, assistant chief administrative officer, said the RM has been preparing for the expansion for several years after noticing the current waste cell was reaching capacity — particularly with the anticipated growth in Steep Rock.
The RM has hired JR Cousin Consultants to provide engineering services for the project, including design, tendering and construction administration. McCoubrey said the size of the new waste cell will be determined by JR Cousin Consultants based on the Population and Waste Generation Assessment report, which council accepted at its May 22 meeting.
“JR Cousins uses a lot of different formulas and algorithms to calculate how much waste is generated per person — whether that person is a full-time resident, a seasonal cottager, a camper or a tourist making a day trip,” McCoubrey said. “Council has reviewed the report, which not only takes into account the current population but also projected growth from future residents with the upcoming Steep Rock development.”
The design for the expansion is expected to be completed by the end of summer. Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with costs to be included in the RM’s 2026 financial plan. The new cell is projected to have a 20-year lifespan.
McCoubrey noted the RM is closely monitoring the capacity of its three other waste disposal sites and is encouraging residents to reduce their waste by recycling and using waste-reduction tools such as the FoodCycler.
In other Grahamdale news:
• Council has selected Jansen Road as the municipality’s major road construction project for 2025. This marks the third and final phase of planned upgrades to the stretch. The scope of work will be announced in June, with completion expected in early fall. Planned improvements include reconstruction to a depth of two feet, resurfacing, and shaping the shoulders on both sides of the road.
• Municipal dust control will take place in early June along Jansen Road, Little Birch Lake Road, and in the Steep Rock town and cottage area.
• Reeve Craig Howse and Coun. Jason Bittner were appointed as the RM’s Environmental Monitors in April 2025. They will work with the Province of Manitoba as it decommissions two groundwater wells associated with the Lake Manitoba Outlet Channel Project. The province requested municipal participation in March. The wells were originally installed during the design phase of the project to gather site information but are no longer needed for continuous groundwater monitoring. The province will reimburse the RM for any costs incurred.
