With design adjustments made to accommodate neighbourhood concerns and equipment on order, Gibsons chief administrative officer Emanuel Machado anticipates no delays or extra costs to complete the Well 6 pumphouse.
While construction did not begin in March as originally planned, Town staff have contracted for archaeological monitoring of the construction site and are applying for a building permit to get the new facility ready for commissioning this June.
On May 5, Gibsons hosted a meeting for the residents of Oceanmount Boulevard to review the adjustments made and to answer questions about the project. Updated project drawings and details are available on Gibsons.ca. Changes include a redesigned building to suit neighbourhood character, modifications to the split roof's levels, a higher grade enclosure for the generator to reduce sound, installation of a "sine-wave filter" and no local audible alarms.
In addition to about 12 residents, members of council and staff were also in attendance. Machado told Coast Reporter “we basically received positive reactions” to the information shared at the event.
One of the citizens who resides close to the planned facility, Phil DuBrulle stated in an email that “our neighbourhood group have entered a phase of understanding with the Town and we are satisfied with where things are at.” Included in that is a Town commitment made at the meeting to explore further landscaping and sidewalk adjustments around the project, which has a total budget of just over $1.3 million.
According to the Town’s website, adding Well 6 to its water system will provide the ability to supply water for a population of 5,500, which is projected to occur between 2026 and 2035, depending on Gibsons’ growth rate. The new building will also house equipment for a future Well 7 in the same area.
Machado confirmed that the issue of pumphouse construction does not require further committee or council direction. He said that the changes made to the design of the structure were “minimal” and costs incurred to implement them will be able to be covered by the contingency allowance budgeted for the project.
As for the effects of the delay to the start of the project caused by the additional neighbourhood engagement, Machado said that staff used that time to source and order required equipment so that it will be on hand when needed, expediting the construction process.
