Infrastructure Projects Considered for Strategic Partnerships
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
March 27, 2008 10:20 AM
Ten projects will be reviewed to determined if they can be done at good value for taxpayers through strategic infrastructure partnerships with the private sector. In February, Nova Scotia signed an agreement giving the province access to the experience and expertise of Partnerships BC, a national leader in strategic infrastructure partnerships.
"This high-level assessment will help us decide if any of these projects could be successfully delivered through a strategic infrastructure partnership," said Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We want to ensure we have the information we need before proceeding with this approach."
The projects are:
-- a consolidated court facility in metro Halifax
-- court facility and municipal offices in New Glasgow
-- corrections facilities in northern Nova Scotia
-- Highway 104, Sutherlands River to Canso Causeway
-- Burnside to Sackville expressway
-- Agricultural college residences in Truro
-- Joe Howe Building refit
-- the Trunk Mobile Radio System
-- VG Hospital facility replacement or upgrade
-- a new water-supply system for the Harbourside Industrial Park in Sydney
The province will invest $20,000 per assessment, for a total of $200,000. Partnerships BC will review each project and apply a standardized set of assessment criteria to determine which procurement option may be the most feasible and could provide best value for taxpayers.
The criteria include effectiveness in protecting public interests, market interest, ability to achieve service and program objectives over the life of the project, as well as design, construction and operations. Partnerships BC will deliver a final report with recommendations on the feasibility of each project as a strategic infrastructure partnership project.
Depending on the results, some projects may be submitted for a detailed business case that will consider all costs of various options, including capital construction, on-going operations and maintenance, major upgrades, and the cost of disposing of the facility when it is no longer useful.
"We have some critical infrastructure needs in our province and are gathering information on the best tool to deliver these projects," said Mr. Scott. "Nova Scotians expect their government to consider all available options, particularly ones that have successfully delivered projects on time and on budget in other provinces."
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Ten projects will be reviewed to determined if they can be
done at good value for taxpayers through strategic infrastructure
partnerships with the private sector.
In February, Nova Scotia signed an agreement giving the
province access to the experience and expertise of Partnerships
BC, a national leader in strategic infrastructure partnerships.
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray
Scott says the high-level assessment will help the province
decide if any of the projects could be done through strategic
infrastructure partnerships.
The projects under review include new courts, correctional
facilities, highways and health care facilities.
The province will invest $200,000 in the review, which
will look at market interest, protection of public interest and
design construction and operations.
-30-
Media Contact: Cathy MacIsaac
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
902-424-8978
E-mail: maciscl@gov.ns.ca
Ten projects will be reviewed to determined if they can be done at good value for taxpayers through strategic infrastructure partnerships with the private sector. In February, Nova Scotia signed an agreement giving the province access to the experience and expertise of Partnerships BC, a national leader in strategic infrastructure partnerships.
"This high-level assessment will help us decide if any of these projects could be successfully delivered through a strategic infrastructure partnership," said Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We want to ensure we have the information we need before proceeding with this approach."
The projects are:
-- a consolidated court facility in metro Halifax
-- court facility and municipal offices in New Glasgow
-- corrections facilities in northern Nova Scotia
-- Highway 104, Sutherlands River to Canso Causeway
-- Burnside to Sackville expressway
-- Agricultural college residences in Truro
-- Joe Howe Building refit
-- the Trunk Mobile Radio System
-- VG Hospital facility replacement or upgrade
-- a new water-supply system for the Harbourside Industrial Park in Sydney
The province will invest $20,000 per assessment, for a total of $200,000. Partnerships BC will review each project and apply a standardized set of assessment criteria to determine which procurement option may be the most feasible and could provide best value for taxpayers.
The criteria include effectiveness in protecting public interests, market interest, ability to achieve service and program objectives over the life of the project, as well as design, construction and operations. Partnerships BC will deliver a final report with recommendations on the feasibility of each project as a strategic infrastructure partnership project.
Depending on the results, some projects may be submitted for a detailed business case that will consider all costs of various options, including capital construction, on-going operations and maintenance, major upgrades, and the cost of disposing of the facility when it is no longer useful.
"We have some critical infrastructure needs in our province and are gathering information on the best tool to deliver these projects," said Mr. Scott. "Nova Scotians expect their government to consider all available options, particularly ones that have successfully delivered projects on time and on budget in other provinces."
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Ten projects will be reviewed to determined if they can be
done at good value for taxpayers through strategic infrastructure
partnerships with the private sector.
In February, Nova Scotia signed an agreement giving the
province access to the experience and expertise of Partnerships
BC, a national leader in strategic infrastructure partnerships.
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray
Scott says the high-level assessment will help the province
decide if any of the projects could be done through strategic
infrastructure partnerships.
The projects under review include new courts, correctional
facilities, highways and health care facilities.
The province will invest $200,000 in the review, which
will look at market interest, protection of public interest and
design construction and operations.
-30-
Media Contact: Cathy MacIsaac
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
902-424-8978
E-mail: maciscl@gov.ns.ca