Hamilton officials are planning to sell the Stoney Creek works yard on Arvin Avenue no later than 2011, says the senior director of water and wastewater.

In an attempt to save money and become more efficient, wastewater officials are proposing to close the Dundas yard on the site of the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plan and the Stoney Creek yard at 911 Arvin Ave. and relocate the estimated 60 employees to a re-developed Brampton Street works yard within three years.

Jim Harnum said city officials are interested in selling the Stoney Creek yard, estimating the property, which is located in a prime industrial area, could fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Mr. Harnum said economic development officials informed him of past inquiries about the property.

"Hamilton is short of shovel-ready property," Mr. Harnum said.

He projects, with councillors' approval, relocating the staff to a wastewater administrative building at Brampton Street could happen between 2010 and 2011.

Members of the public works committee discussed the issue behind closed doors May 5.

City officials say by consolidating its Stoney Creek, Dundas, Wentworth Street and John Street North yards to the Brampton/Rennie Street yard, the city could save about $12.8 million, or about $1 million per year. Mr. Harnum said if nothing were done, the city would have to spend about $4 million, including to upgrade the buildings at its Dundas work yards.

An idea to bring all staff to the city's Upper Ottawa work yard was rejected.

Mr. Harnum said the wastewater division plans to construct a Centre for Excellence at the Brampton Street yard to train provincially-licensed water operators, along with continuing to operate the public works' salt dome. The estimated cost for the wastewater amalgamation and construction is between $8 million and $9 million.

Stoney Creek councillor Dave Mitchell acknowledged the Stoney Creek work yard is in a "very valuable" area, but he is wary of the city closing yards.

After amalgamation, the city closed the Stoney Creek's work yard in Tapleytown and threatened to close the Binbrook work yard to save money.

"I'm not enamoured of centralization," said Mr. Mitchell. "There needs to be a works yard in the east end of Hamilton. Each case has to be made individually."