As The Town of Gibsons continues to grow, it is taking steps to “future-proof” development along the foreshore with infrastructure planning based on staff recommendations.
During its Oct. 8 Regular Meeting, Coun. David Croal put forward a motion for staff to come to council with recommendations on “future-proofing” waterfront properties currently served by foreshore sanitary sewage mains. “In the long range, we're potentially looking at having to move the main sewer line for the town along the foreshore, which would necessitate going from gravity feed to sewage bumps,” Croal said. “Any new buildings on the foreshore should be aware of that.”
In an email to Coast Reporter, Trevor Rutley, Gibsons director of infrastructure said the Town’s sanitary collection system includes mains along the foreshore, from Armours Beach to the bluff. Recognizing that sea level rise and increasing storm intensity will likely make these mains more vulnerable in the future, staff will come back to council with long-term options, which may include raising or relocating the foreshore sanitary mains.
Staff confirmed they and the director of infrastructure services were aware of the motion beforehand, “This is about ensuring future development of those sites have the infrastructure for eventually when the town moves the infrastructure up to Marine Drive or Gower Point Road so that they can tie into it,” Corporate officer Rebecca Anderson said. “What we would do is go back and look at what properties would be affected by moving infrastructure and coming forward with recommendations to put into our bylaw, probably Bylaw 1175 which is the Servicing Bylaw.”
The motion was unanimously carried.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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