Winnipeg breaks ground on CentrePort South development

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Winnipeg’s CentrePort South project launched tenders for water and wastewater infrastructure and established a development team it was announced on Friday.

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The groundbreaking event was attended by representatives from the Province of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg, CentrePort Canada, and Winnipeg Airports Authority.

Lisa Naylor, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, said, “We’re excited to see this project move forward as it will create good jobs for Manitobans and help grow our economy. Manitoba is an international trade corridor linked by sea, rail, road and air from the Arctic Ocean to Mexico and Centreport plays a vital role.

“We are pleased to partner with other levels of government to move this project forward, to attract investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. By incentivizing housing developments, investing in low-carbon industries, we are giving the next generation of workers more opportunities to build a career and raise a family here in Manitoba.”

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CentrePort South covers 1,800 acres, with 500 acres designated for residential and 1,100 acres for industrial use, including a new park on the Winnipeg Airports Authority campus. It is projected to generate over 16,000 jobs and nearly $80 million in annual tax revenue once fully developed.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said, “This is a transformative opportunity for our city, promising to create thousands of jobs and thousands of new homes. We’re committed to making CentrePort South a thriving hub for growth and innovation by streamlining processes and investing in supporting infrastructure, like the Chief Peguis Trail extension and Route 90 renewal.”

To facilitate development, the City is forming the CentrePort South Development Support Team to expedite application reviews and permit processing. Matt Dryburgh, Senior Manager of Economic Development, will lead the team, which includes members from various civic departments.

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Carly Edmundson, President and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc., said, “At CentrePort, we know what the key ingredients are for economic growth at the inland port, and they include fully-serviced land availability, multiple levels of government working together, and a strategic, coordinated approach to development.” She added, “Today’s announcement sends a strong message that CentrePort South is ready for investment and growth.”

The City and Province have committed more than $74 million to Phase 1A infrastructure. Current projects include:

– Interceptor and Feeder Main: Tenders awarded in June, expected completion by Q4 and Q3 2025.
– Lift Station: Tender closes end of August, completion by Q3 2026.
– Force Main: Tender closes early August, completion by Q3 2026.

These developments will support both residential and industrial projects, including the airport’s industrial park, with construction set to begin in 2025.

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