Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans Community & Intergovernmental Relations Department 625 St. Joseph Street, Room B-47 New Orleans, Louisiana 70165 504-585-2175
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2007
From: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Contact: Robert Jackson, 269-7978  or               Brenda Thornton, 269-7819
REGIONALISM / PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO HELP NEW ORLEANS AND PLAQUEMINES PARISH.  $150 MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT ANTICIPATED.

Regionalism / Public Private Partnerships, are concepts not new to the Sewerage and Water Board, who has provided water and wastewater services to Plaquemines Parish for more than 20 years. Still post Katrina, it is not only very important, but it is an absolute necessity for our region to embrace these concepts to survive and grow.

On November 12, 2007 at 3PM, Sewerage and Water Board Mayor-President C. Ray Nagin, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, and Community developer David Waltemath will sign an agreement in furtherance of continued regionalism efforts. President Nungesser states that, "This agreement will provide for the sale of excess capacity of sewer and water services from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to Plaquemines Parish so that Plaquemines can provide those services to Waltemath's new Master Planned Community, "The Parks of Plaquemines".

Mayor-President Nagin in noting a win-win situation for everyone involved says that, "This arrangement will 1) allow the Sewerage and Water Board to sell excess capacity thus creating a much needed income stream, 2) provide Plaquemines the capacity to allow new development in upper Plaquemines where they need it most, and 3) will allow the developer to proceed with his first community development in the area since English Turn.

According to Mr. Waltemath, Neighborhood parks, a community trail system, swimming and tennis will highlight the Parks of Plaquemines, a new 376 lot upscale residential neighborhood. The 213-acre Park developed on Woodland Highway in Plaquemines Parish will be a collection of estate and courtyard home sites. Home sale prices will range from the $300's to the $400's++.  It is estimated that once home construction is complete the potential will be over a $150 million impact to the Orleans and Plaquemines communities. While the families will live in Plaquemines, most are anticipated to work and shop in New Orleans providing the benefit of regionalism to all participating communities.