'It's been kept very secret': Questions arise over new $4M water tower in Shediac

Some residents in Shediac are raising concerns about a new $4 million water tower, sayingthe project cameout of nowhere.

Construction startedlast monthon Ohio Road, across the street from Camping Oceanic.

But the project wasn't part of the town's 2017 budgetand residentswonder if it's really serving their needs, or those of thecampgrounds multiplying in the area.

Residents questionwhy an investment of that size didn't warrant any kind of public announcement, and wonderif the town isn't trying to dodge questions.

"It's been kept very secret," said resident Arthur Melanson.

"The only thing that's there right now that's a big development in place is for the campground. So is that tank there to supply the campground? And if it is, why are the Shediac taxpayers paying for that?"

Campgrounds nearby

Camping Oceanic, a 340-site trailer park across the road from the construction site, recently announced a 400-site expansion, shortly after it received money in a confidential settlement.

Downthe roadis the future site ofShediacCamping the controversial project that used to belong to MLA VictorBoudreaubefore he gave up his stake, estimated at about 700 sites for trailers.

In the project's review last July, the province pointed out thatpromoters miscalculated how much drinking water campground users would need, and asked for a letter from the town confirming it would havethe capacity to accommodate the campground's needs.

Melanson thinks the timing of the new water tower is no coincidence.

In the town'sfive-year capital projects budgetissued last year, construction of a new water tower wasn't planneduntil 2021.

"Why the rush into this?" askedMelanson.

Taxpayermoney

JacquesLeBlanc, mayor of Shediac,refused to do an interview with CBC News. He said construction of a new water tower didn't constitute news.

In an email, atown clerk told CBCthatShediacwas getting the moneyfrom a 20-year loan from the provincial government.

The town issued a statement to the media on Monday explaining the need for the water tower.

"Unlike what is being suggested by CBC, the water tower is not being built to serve the future needs of a campground," the statement said.

"It is however being built as part of a long-term plan to serve the needs of all users of the municipal water system. "

The statement did not address why the tower was not in the 2017 budget. It also did not address why its construction timeline was moved up from the 2021 date set out in thefive-year capital projects budget.

BillBelliveau, anotherresident, said he believes taxpayers deserve to know if their money is being used to helpthose campgrounds.

"They're both privateenterprisesand they're both, as I suspect, would be significant water consumers," saidBelliveau.

"There was nothing in the budget or the town plan for a new water tower at this time, and certainly not in this part of town. It shouldn't be a burden of taxpayers," he said.

The town said construction on the water tower is scheduled to becompleted by August of 2018.