FAQ's

The event itself won't be recorded, but the overhead presentation will be made available on this webpage in the Document Library following the event. 

Due to numerous requests for the electoral response form ahead of the official start of the Alternative Approval Process on August 14, 2024, the form is now available at the following:

• Online on the Get Involved RDN Nanoose Bay Reservoir Improvement Project - Alternative Approval Process page here or on our RDN website here
• In person at the RDN Administration Office, 6300 Hammond Bay, Nanaimo
• By mail - call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 to request a mailed copy
• By email vote@rdn.bc.ca

An Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is a public process that allows electors of a specific area to indicate whether they are against a local government proposal moving forward. Instead of a traditional vote, an AAP allows citizens to express their opposition. 

If more than 10 percent of electors oppose the bylaw, the Nanoose Reservoir Improvement project may not proceed. If fewer than 10% responses in opposition are received by 4 p.m. on September 16, 2024, elector approval is deemed to have been obtained and the RDN Board may proceed to support the project.

There are three steps in the Alternative Approval Process:

1. Notification: Local governments must publish notice about the proposal to the community in accordance with RDN Public Notice Bylaw and Section 86(3.1) of the Community Charter.
2. Elector Response Forms: Eligible electors (persons who can vote during an election) have at least 30 days after the publication of the notice to submit elector response forms if they would like to indicate their opposition to the bylaw. If electors are not opposed to the bylaw, an elector response form does not need to be submitted. 
3. Certification: After the deadline for the AAP has passed, the local government corporate officer must determine and certify whether elector approval has been obtained. Electoral approval is obtained if less than 10 percent of the electors submit a valid elector response form by the deadline. 

Participation in the Alternative Approval Process is only necessary if an eligible individual opposes the proposal. If an individual is in support of the proposal, no action is required. 

An individual who is entitled to vote in general local elections, by-elections, or assent voting and can sign an elector response form during an Alternative Approval Process by virtue of living, or owning property, within the area defined for the Alternative Approval Process, which is the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area. 

Individuals must meet the following requirements to participate in the Alternative Approval Process:

• 18 years of age; 

• Canadian citizen; 

• Resident of British Columbia for at least six months; 

• A resident or property owner in the area defined for the AAP (in this case, the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area); 

• Must not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in an election, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

If you subscribe to the Get Involved RDN Nanoose Bay Reservoir Improvement page, emails will be sent to you when the APP begins on August 14, 2024, as well as when further updates are available on events, AAP results, and the next steps. 

If you are NOT OPPOSED – you do not need to take any action.

If you are OPPOSED to the Nanoose Bay Reservoir Improvement Project, you need to let the RDN know through the formal Alternative Approval Process (AAP). 

To do this, submit a signed copy of the Electoral Response Form to the RDN before 4 p.m. on September 16, 2024. 

 Electoral Response Forms are available via the following methods: 

• Online: Electoral Response Form
• In person at the RDN Administration Office: 6300 Hammond Bay Road
• By mail: call 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111 to request a mailed copy
• By Email: email vote@rdn.bc.ca to request a form.

Yes. Any elector who has submitted an AAP Electoral Response Form and wishes to retract it, they can submit their request in writing via mail, email, or fax; or in person with the provision of ID, up to the AAP closing date of September 16, 2024. The RDN can be reached at:

• By phone at 250-390-4111 or 1-877-607-4111
• By email at vote@rdn.bc.ca
• By fax at (250) 390-4163

If more than 10 percent of eligible electors oppose the bylaw, the Nanoose Reservoir Improvement Project may not be funded as it is currently planned. The RDN Board would then decide on alternative methods of funding for the Arbutus reservoir refurbishment and the new Notch Hill reservoir construction projects. Since Arbutus reservoir is currently in poor condition in need of urgent repair and there is a phased development agreement in place between the Fairwinds Developer and the RDN, the entire project would likely be split and proceed in different phases. Any alternate funding model, other than the one proposed in this AAP, will be more expensive for the existing property owners as the existing users will need to pay 51% share of the new Notch Hill reservoir when it gets built. The long-term borrowing for the Arbutus Reservoir renewal, proposed in this AAP, provides the most cost-effective financing as the short-term taxation for the equivalent amount would be financially more burdensome for the existing property owners.

The project being proposed will include refurbishing the Arbutus Reservoir (built in 1982) with a new liner and a new roof and constructing one brand new reservoir on Notch Hill.

The Arbutus Reservoir is located on Link Place in the Garry Oak subdivision.  This existing reservoir will be refurbished on the same site, so no additional land will need to be purchased.  On Notch Hill, the Regional District of Nanaimo’s (RDN) statutory right of way will be expanded to accommodate an additional reservoir and no additional land will need to be purchased.  

Water storage improvements are necessary in all Water Service Areas to maintain fire protection and drinking water availability. Increased water storage will contribute to community preparedness for future growth and the challenges of climate change.

All property owners within the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area (approximately 2600) would pay for these reservoir improvements.   The total project cost is estimated at $2.4M.  Approximately half of the funding already in place includes:

• $393,000 from the NBPWSA reserve fund; and
• $862,900 from Development Cost Charges (DCCs);

Borrowing the remaining $1.2M from the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) is being proposed to cover the remaining project expenses. Borrowing funds from the MFA must be supported by the NBPWSA property owners, as the repayment of this debt amount would be recovered from each NBPWSA property owner. Using the current MFA rate of 4.5% and a 25-year amortization would result in a debt repayment of approximately $34 per year. If the project proceeds, owners would be given the choice whether to pay their share of the borrowed funds as either a lump sum of $465 (to save interest), or to be amortized on their property taxes. 

At the end of construction (if the project proceeds), property owners would be given the opportunity to pay for their share of the project cost (debt) as a lump sum, thereby avoiding interest charges.  Doing so would result in a one-time payment of approximately $465 per property.

The final amount owing will depend on the lending rate in place at the time of borrowing. Lending rates tend to fluctuate from year to year, and the project will take more than one year to complete from its start date. 

If the project proceeds, no costs will be payable by each NBPWSA property owner until the construction has been completed, and all of the project costs have been accounted for. Approved borrowing will not be exceeded. Property owners will be notified when their share of the project costs are due, and will be given an opportunity to pay the amount as a lump sum, or to amortize the amount on their property taxes for 25 years.

Once the reservoir improvement tax has been added to a property owner's tax roll, it cannot be removed. If a property owner sells their property, the tax will remain with the property not with the property owner. If a property owner wants to pay off the construction amount sooner than 25 years, they should not opt to put the construction amount on their taxes, and seek other financing arrangements. 

If the construction costs start to approach the $2.4M limit promised to the property owners, the RDN has the option to reduce the scope of the project, halt the project, or temporarily suspend the project until additional funds can be secured.

Yes, a Development Cost Charge (DCC) fund was established many years ago for expanding the water system capacity.  These DCC funds will be used, along with future DCC funds to be collected, to pay for 49% of the new reservoir at Notch Hill.

The additional reservoir required in the Nanoose Bay water service area will benefit all existing 2600 property owners as extra water storage in times of extreme water demand such as watermain breaks and house/brush fires.