Final stage of cleaning up contaminated Randle Reef gets underway in Hamilton Harbour

The third and final stage to remove sediment at Randle Reef is underway.

The $150-million project is cleaning up of the once-most contaminated site on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.

Randle Reef had over 615,000 cubic metres of sediment — enough to fill a hockey rink three times over. The contamination dates back to the 1800s, after years of industrial pollution.

The clean up started in 2016 and was originally set to be done by 2022 but the pandemic resulted in some delays, said Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas MP Filomena Tassi on Wednesday. 

The last step involves removing and treating the remaining water from the container before releasing it back into the harbour and installing the final capping of the container. 

The project, now expected to be completed by 2025, will "resonate far beyond the shores of the Hamilton Harbour," Tassi said.

"The Great Lakes are an essential to the health and well being of millions of Canadians, our ecosystems and the economy. Pollution has been putting all this at risk."

Tassi joined other local MPs Karina Gould (Burlington), Lisa Hepfner (Hamilton Mountain) and Chad Collins (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) at the site of the dredging Wednesday to announce the start of the last stage, alongside CEO of the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) Ian Hamilton.

The project is a joint initiative between all levels of government, HOPA and Stelco.

"In this stage, Milestone Environmental [the company doing the work] will install a special environmental cap over the engineered contaminant facility and any contaminated water from the dredge sediment will be collected and treated," said Tassi.

"Apart from the environmental benefits, the Randall Reef project is expected to create good jobs and inspire more businesses. All told, it could add about $168 million to the local economy," she added.

Tassi also announced $29 million to Ottawa-based Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. for this last stage. The contract includes a commitment to have some of the work subcontracted to an Indigenous business.

As a result, Milestone Environmental is partnering with the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation.

Neil Freeman, chair of the board of directors of the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation, said the team will be doing the contracting for the project.