Northumberland County is continuing to strengthen its Asset Management Plan to support informed investment decisions for local infrastructure and to ensure sustainable service delivery over the long-term
As part of this on-going initiative, Northumberland County is reaching out to the community to gather valuable feedback on current levels of service and current state of County assets such as roads, bridges, culverts, storm sewers, traffic lights, corporate buildings, and the Northumberland County Forest. The County is also interested in understanding public expectations for future maintenance and renewal of these assets. Asset management planning plays a key role in enabling municipalities to make strategic, evidence-based decisions about infrastructure investments.
“In June 2022, we released an updated Asset management plan based on public input, focusing on our core assets such as bridges, culverts, storm sewers and County Roads,” commented Director of Public Works Denise Marshall. “This current survey will now guide us in determining the necessary service levels and investments required to maintain all County assets”.
The Province mandates that all municipalities have a comprehensive asset management plan, including service level standards, by July 1, 2024.
Northumberland County has increased investments dedicated to maintaining this complex infrastructure, however, despite escalating investments, the challenge of securing adequate financing to meet service level standards continues to outpace available funds; a challenge common to municipalities across Ontario.
Well-planned and well-maintained infrastructure is critical for effective municipal service delivery and a thriving community. With aging assets, and the compounding effects of population growth and climate change, municipalities are increasingly challenged with ensuring the long-term sustainability of their infrastructure.
To actively participate in this planning process and contribute your insights, please complete the online survey by November 3, 2023. To share your thoughts, visit the Join In Northumberland website: Northumberland.ca/AssetManagementSurvey
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
