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Upper Thames Watershed Conservation Centre Officially Open

Friday, 31 May 2013 11:22

The new 12 million dollar Upper Thames Watershed Conservation Centre is officially open. Oxford County was the second largest contributor to the building which was built entirely of taxpayer money from member municipalities. Ingersoll councillor and Upper Thames Board members Cathy Mott says the new building was much needed. "(The old building) was a health hazard, water leaked everywhere, carpet was torn up, people were stacked three or four to an office that was built for one person, it was difficult to walk through." Blandford Blenheim Mayor Marion Wearn says even though the building is located in London, it is an incredible gain for Oxford County. "We are part of this watershed and this new facility is encorporating so much in the way of allowing public input and public use and I think it's a great work environment certainly for the people who are doing this conservation work for us." Upper Thames General Manager Ian Wilcox says they do a lot of work with Oxford member groups such as trail associations and sub-watershed groups. "One of the challenges we've had with those groups is maybe hosting a one day event, whether it's a meeting of the group itself or a workshop, having a facility to host that. This building was designed not just for staff but for communities to use." Oxford contributed just under $2 million for the building which is hoping to gain a platinum designation from North America's premier green building rating system. The Conservation Authority estimates energy savings alone will more than pay for the capital costs of the project over the next 50 years.

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