Acting Finance Minister Alex Scott has presented a $1.6 million cheque to the Corporation of Hamilton to help build a new sewage treatment plant.

The plant will be built at a total cost of $7 million and the remaining $5.4 million will be made up by the Corporation.

Hamilton Mayor, Lawson E. Mapp, said: "I want to thank the Minister for this Government grant of $1.6 million toward the cost of the new Sewage pumping station which is now under construction.'' Mr. Mapp said the new station will have the latest technology, replacing the now defunct system which has been in place for the past 20 years.

He said: "It will include four pumps instead of the two we have at present and will also be fitted with a fine screening system, a diesel generator to provide back-up power, a very efficient odour control system, and a computerised control system to give us maximum efficiency.'' Mr. Mapp added: "Most people are probably unaware that our City sewage system also takes care of the sewage from many areas outside the City, including all of the large office buildings to the west of the City together with the Princess Hotel.'' Hospital and cruise ship waste is also processed through the system and Mr.

Mapp pointed out that only 47 percent of the annual flow comes from buildings within the city.

Corporation Secretary, Roger Sherratt said the Corporation never usually receives assistance from Government, but an exception was made in this case as Government recognises the contribution made by the Corporation's waste disposal in assisting services from outside the city.

Proposals for the plant have been in the works since 1996 and it will replace the old waste water pumping station, opposite Docksiders bar on Front Street.

The existing facility cuts up solid waste into tiny particles before pumping it out to sea.

The new facility will have the ability to filter out solid waste and grease before the remaining effluent is discharged out of the pipe off Hungry Bay.