Council supports sustainable service delivery through comprehensive asset management
Newmarket Council continues to support sustainable service delivery through comprehensive asset management plans and received a presentation that highlights significant strides made in managing the Town’s assets (roads, bridges, water, wastewater, stormwater, parks, and facilities).
Asset management plans provide information about the value, condition, growth, cost and service levels of a collection of infrastructure assets. The Town’s proactive approach emphasizes continuous improvement, financial prudence and strategic planning to maintain services now and for future generations. This process also reflects sound and accountable governance of the Town’s infrastructure.
The reports to Council detail notable achievements, identify areas for consideration and outline steps forward.
Key achievements:
- Comprehensive asset management plans: The Town has successfully developed plans covering parks, facilities, roads, bridges, water, wastewater and stormwater. This provides a blueprint for sustainable levels of service backed by a financial strategy.
- Technological advancements: An Enterprise Asset Management Roadmap is being developed. This will make it easier for staff to deliver better asset-related services more efficiently, supported by digital tools and access to reliable data.
- Condition assessments: Verifying age-based ratings with field inspections is an important assessment tool which has led to a significant reduction in replacement backlog for $28 million of wastewater sewers.
Looking forward, the Town will focus on establishing Levels of Service Targets and a Sustainable Funding Strategy. This strategy will address the entire asset lifecycle, including capital and operational budgets, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience of municipal services.
Watch the presentation or read the full Staff Report to learn more about the Town’s asset management plans.
Preserving Newmarket’s cultural heritage
Council is dedicated to preserving and protecting Newmarket’s Cultural Heritage Buildings and have approved further exploration of potential heritage designation of forty-nine properties in Town.
The Ontario Heritage Act stipulates that non-designated heritage properties must be removed from the Town’s register by January 1, 2025, if a notice of intention to designate is not issued. Town staff is on track and continues to work to meet the current legislative timelines.
Town staff, along with a Heritage Consultant, have been working to review and assess properties on the municipal heritage register. The Town has identified 49 priority properties that have high potential to meet the criteria for designation. Should the properties meet the provincial standards, staff will be issuing a “Notice of Intention to Designate.”
The Town aims to preserve Newmarket’s cultural heritage while adhering to the legislative changes. Some of the priority properties include:
- Margaret Forsyth House on Timothy Street: This was originally the site of a hotel, which operated from the early 19th century under various names. The brick for the building came from the Stickwood Brick Yard on Srigley Street.
- Dye’s Inn on Eagle Street: Constructed from 1820 to 1822, this is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Newmarket and is still located in its original location.
Hill/Beman/Robinson House on Eagle Street: Relocated from original site on Water Street and Fairy Lake, this is the first dwelling constructed within the present boundaries of Newmarket. - Newmarket Cemetery House on Main Street North: Built in 1873 for the cemetery’s caretakers, the dwelling has housed every caretaker of the cemetery since its construction.
In support of a request from Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) and the Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee and in solidarity with other municipalities, Newmarket Council also passed a motion to request a deadline extension from the province related to non-designated heritage properties.
For more information, read the Staff Report or learn about the priority properties.