The Ontario government has announced that it will invest up to $25 million in water infrastructure to help enable the construction of 2,266 new homes in the Town of Cobourg.

The funding is being delivered through the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure that will enable the construction of more homes.

“We’re working with our municipal partners here in Cobourg and across Ontario to get more homes built faster,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With billions of dollars in investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, our government is helping get more shovels in the ground to keep the dream of homeownership alive and help more families across Ontario find a home that meets their needs and their budgets.”

The Town of Cobourg will use the funding to expand its wastewater system and watermains to deliver clean water to residents in the community. The project will support the development of the Cobourg East Community Secondary Plan area, unlocking more homes and supporting economic growth.

"The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund will directly finance the installation of trunk sanitary sewers and water mains which is the critical infrastructure required for housing development,” said Mayor Lucas Cleveland.

Earlier this year, the province announced it would add $250 million to the fund. It said the additional cash was needed to respond to a significant demand from municipalities for investments in drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to enable the construction of more homes.

The fund is now valued at $1.2 billion, and the province is currently accepting a second round of applications. Under this intake, $120 million will be reserved for projects in small, rural and northern municipalities without housing targets.