Bowser Village Centre Wastewater Project

On March 26, 2019 the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board of Directors decided to discontinue the Bowser Village Centre Sewer Servicing project, due to schedule and cost constraints. The project was to include a collection system, wastewater treatment and effluent disposal for the Bowser Village Centre to support future growth in the Bowser Village area.

In March 2017, the RDN was awarded a joint Federal and Provincial Clean Water & Wastewater Fund of up to $7.6 million to provide the Bowser Village Centre with sanitary sewer servicing to support the community’s evolution into a “compact, complete community”. The grant was contingent on completing the project by March 31, 2020. Although the discontinuation has future infrastructure servicing implications for property owners, the RDN will continue to work with the property owners, provincial agencies and the community to support future growth in the Bowser Village in accordance with the Electoral Area H Official Community Plan (OCP).

For information on the Electoral Area H Official Community Plan visit: rdn.bc.ca/electoral-area-h-deep-bay-bowser-and-qualicum-bay

To reflect Bowser Village Centre Wastewater Project progress throughout 2018, we have made the following updates to the project website:

• Revised the project description (above).
• Revised the project timeline to show how we have moved into the tendering phase.
• Added a 2018 Project History Timeline to the background documents.

As of February 2019, the following project milestones were achieved:

• Qualified professionals have completed environmental impact studies for the wastewater treatment plant site and marine outfall.
• Engineers finalized specification packages for the collection system, wastewater treatment plant and marine outfall.
• The final permitting and approval packages have been submitted to their appropriate agencies.
• A prequalification call to identify interested and qualified contractors was issued for the project.
  

The RDN issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Bowser Village Centre Wastewater Project on February 8, 2019. The intent of this RFQ is to seek statements of qualifications from parties interested in construction of the project.

In January, the Board directed staff to proceed with the tender process for the Bowser Wastewater project, as designed with collection system, treatment plant, and marine outfall, and to report back to the Board. The Board also directed staff to continue to engage with federal and provincial elected officials to secure an extension to the current grant deadline of March 31, 2020. The Board did not support a motion to further investigate ground disposal.

In February, we plan to issue a prequalification call to identify interested and qualified contractors, continue engagement with permitting agencies, grant agencies and First Nations, and finalize the tender packages.

At the Regular Board meeting on December 4, 2018, the RDN board endorsed the motion that staff be directed to bring back a report to the January 8, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting, regarding the options and implications of undertaking further investigations of land disposal for the Bowser Village Centre Wastewater Project.

The project remains in the Detailed Design, Permitting and Approvals phase. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The RDN Board adopted the “Regional District of Nanaimo Land Use and Subdivision Amendment Bylaw No. 500.420, 2018” at the Special Board Meeting on September 4, 2018 to permit the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment facility.

The RDN Board will consider adoption of “Regional District of Nanaimo Land Use and Subdivision Amendment Bylaw No. 500.420, 2018” to permit the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment facility at a Special Board meeting to be held on September 4, 2018.

Amendment Bylaw No. 500.420 was introduced and given first and second reading at the Regular Board meeting on June 26, 2018, and proceeded to public hearing on July 9, 2018. The amendment bylaw received third reading at the Regular Board meeting on July 24, 2018 and was approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as required under S.52 of the Transportation Act on July 26, 2018.

Two items relating to the Bowser Village Wastewater Project were on the agenda for the Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Regular Board Meeting. An update on these items are as follows:

1. Bowser Village Wastewater Treatment Plant Zoning Amendment Bylaw 500.420, 2018 received third reading (see motion 18-287 on page 2 of the meeting minutes).

2. The “Bowser Village Sanitary Sewer Service Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1773, 2018” was read three times and adopted (see motions 18-328 and 18-329 on page 10 of the meeting minutes).

Two items relating to the Bowser Village Wastewater Project are on the agenda for the Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. These items are:

1. Bowser Village Wastewater Treatment Plant Zoning Amendment Bylaw 500.420, 2018

• The zoning amendment application for the proposed Bowser wastewater treatment plant site will be brought before the Regional Board for consideration of third reading. See the July 24 Meeting Agenda for details. (Agenda item 9.1 on page 10. Report and supporting documents, see pages 457 - 640.)

2. Bowser Village Sanitary Sewer Service Rates and Regulations Bylaw No. 1773

• The Rates and Regulations bylaw for the Bowser Sewer Service Area will be considered for three readings and adoption. See the July 24 Meeting Agenda for more information. (Agenda item 8.2.8 on page 8. Report and supporting documents, see pages 380 - 398.)