The following are briefs from the March 27 Sunshine Coast Regional District committee of the whole and regular board meetings.
The SCRD is getting started on amending its water licence for Chapman Creek in anticipation of the Lower Crown reservoir. Though it’s understood final confirmation from the SCRD for construction and a lot of feasibility work is still to come, the province advised SCRD staff to get the amendment process started, lest it hold up the project. The application is estimated to cost less than $1,000 and to be funded through the feasibility assessment budget. The application may be cancelled at any time, said the director of infrastructure. On April 17, there will be a dedicated committee meeting on the reservoir project with more technical information, the director told the board.
Cultural sensitivity in emergency response
A second year of provincial funding for enhancing cultural sensitivity in emergency response and management is coming to the SCRD. Proposed activities include engaging with shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw to hire a cultural navigator to integrate Indigenous knowledge in existing programs, creating a cultural navigator role within the Emergency Operations Centre and participating in a joint community emergency preparedness day, to bring together First Nations, emergency responder agencies, health agencies, local communities and government agencies. The second year of funding is $48,000, which will roll into the yet unspent funds from the first year of funding.
Dump power
As it nears end of life, the dump is getting connected to the grid. SCRD board approved paying BC Hydro $295,890 to install power poles to connect the Sechelt Landfill to the power grid –– something the board first directed staff to pursue back in 2020. Further civil work will cost $40,000 says a staff report.
The staff report notes if the landfill transitions to transfer station after it is full, the grid power will provide reliable energy supply for current and future solid waste facilities.
During discussion directors noted that not being on the grid has limited the facility’s capabilities.
“Hallelujah,” said Elphinstone Director Donna McMahon. “This has been how many years that we've been trying to get power up to the landfill?”
Roberts Creek Director Kelly Backs noted that this would reduce the landfill’s greenhouse gas impact – as it will no longer be using generators –– and should the generators have useable life left, they could be used elsewhere.
Staff said it would be “a couple months yet” before the work’s all done “but it’s close.”
Exempting ‘Murder’
Filming for TV show ‘Murder in a Small Town’ has been granted exemption from noise bylaws in the SCRD’s rural areas between 5:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., and 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. up until June 13. Until now, Alberg Productions S2 Inc. has requested exemptions on a case-by-case basis, since the show first started filming in January 2024. Staff aren’t aware of any reported noise issues in the community because of the filming, said a report, adding that the bylaw division reports no negative interactions from residents reported related to the filming. The company will continue circulating “notice of filming” letters to residents surrounding areas once addresses are identified, and providing that information to staff. The report said this move increases efficiency for SCRD staff and the production company.
Roofs for recreation
A contract of up to $2,156,000 for replacing roof membranes of the Gibsons and Area Community Centre and the Sechelt Aquatic Centre was awarded to Metro Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.
The membranes date back to the buildings’ construction in 2007 and are reaching end of life. Staff saw bubbling and degrading in the membrane during routine inspections of the membrane and a roofing engineer’s assessment confirmed the roofs are nearing end of life, said a report. Staff told the board the work looks like it will be completed in August-September
