Updated November 22 at 9am
Just over a million dollars is being invested in the construction of a new Langdale Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Funding for the project was announced in a Nov. 15 press release, jointly issued by West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Patrick Weiler, the Government of British Columbia, and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
The Government of Canada is providing $410,199 for the build through its Green Infrastructure stream of its Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The province is contributing $341,798 to the project and the regional district will cover the remaining $273,501.
It was Jan 13, 2022 when the SCRD board approved applying for that federal and provincial funding and agreed to provide its share of the funding, if the application was successful.
The press release notes along with building a new treatment facility, the project will replace the existing site dispersal systems. “The new facility will have greater functioning capacity than the previous Langdale wastewater treatment system, which will ease the load from surrounding water systems and improve services for the community,” it stated.
No timeline for construction start has been provided but the grant details stipulate a March 31, 2028 project completion date. In a report to a recent SCRD committee meeting, staff outlined that they were in discussions with the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), owners of an adjacent land parcel. The report stated that a request for proposals “to undertake technical assessments and preliminary design work is on hold until YMCA discussions are completed."
In a Nov 21 email to Coast Reporter, SCRD communications manager Aidan Buckley explained that the local government has a temporary arrangement with the YMCA to treat the Langdale wastewater service area using the YMCA owned wastewater treatment system. The SCRD is reviewing the potential to enter into a long-term arrangement with the YMCA before committing to building an entirely new wastewater treatment and disposal system.
"Next step is to continue discussions with the YMCA to determine if a long-term arrangement is viable. Once this step is completed, the project scope can be fully defined and public process developed...The SCRD always strives to provide the best value on all projects. Early efforts to ensure the project is well defined/scoped at the onset typically leads to a more cost effective and successful project overall. Staff are working to get the best and most efficient way to manage the community’s wastewater," Buckley wrote.
In the same release, shared funding to upgrade primary, secondary, and sludge treatment systems at the Mamquam Wastewater Treatment Plant in the District of Squamish was announced and the total for the two projects was listed at $11.1 million.
On behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Weiler stated in the release that “the Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial and municipal governments to get essential infrastructure built that allows communities to grow and be resilient for the long term. The Government of Canada’s investment of over $4.4 million will support the delivery of reliable and efficient wastewater treatment services in Squamish and the Sunshine Coast Regional District that will protect our environment. We will continue to invest in critical infrastructure projects like these, which help build safer and stronger communities for everyone.”
