The shíshálh Nation’s goal remains to start construction “immediately” after funding sources are confirmed for its Lower Crown raw water reservoir. A consultant working with the Nation, Jasmine Paul, shared that message with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board at its Nov. 30 meeting. It was part of a presentation on the recently completed feasibility plan for the project.
Joining her for that presentation was another project consultant, Daniel Jenkins from JDS Energy and Mining, who reviewed the plan’s objectives. Those included providing preliminary design considerations and updated cost estimates for the Lower Crown storage facility, current and projected area climate and Chapman watershed conditions, and scheduling and execution plans for the project. While details on all aspects were not part of the presentation, he noted that the estimated storage capacity of the Lower Crown site had been increased to a million cubic metres.
Paul also stated that as the location is already an industrial or a “brown site," the pre-construction environmental impact review requirements would be less stringent than if it were on undeveloped property, or a “green site."
As decisions on federal and provincial grant applications have not been announced, Paul indicated the Nation’s aspirations for mid-2024 project completion have been tempered. “In the near future, ideally in 2025, the reservoir would be up and running and we would be able to provide additional water security to residents on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
Board calls for plan review by staff
Following the presentation, the board moved $100,000 of current budget to cover the costs of staff review of legal, financial, and operational implications of that plan and the development of recommendations to elected officials on next steps.
“This is the due diligence that we need to do,” Area E director Donna McMahon said as she introduced the motion as it appeared in a staff report on the meeting agenda.
The money will come out of a regional water service project that was to focus on long-term surface water supply sources. The board also endorsed a motion to consider proposals to replace the removed funds in its 2024 budget deliberations, set to start Dec. 4.
Along with shifting dollars around, staff work assignments will be re-jigged, and that raised questions from elected officials. To “fully engage” in the reservoir project starting in early January 2024, work would be delayed on other current workplan projects, according to the report. Approved projects that could be impacted were identified as studies on other long-term surface water supply sources, review of long-term regional solid waste disposal options, negotiations regarding the Langdale Wastewater Treatment plant, a Square Bay Wastewater Treatment plant infiltration reduction study, feasibility studies for Jolly Roger and Secret Cove Wastewater Treatment plants as well as the Hopkins Landing water supply service, plus modernization of subdivision servicing and water sates and regulations bylaws.
Directors from Area D (Roberts Creek) Kelly Backs and Area F (West Howe Sound) Kate-Louise Stamford expressed concerns with setting aside efforts on long-term solid waste options in favour of background work on projects where funding sources are still being confirmed.
SCRD chief administrative officer Dean McKinley estimated that the earliest date for the release of grant decisions was likely March 2024. If grants are approved, having the project operable in 2025 as indicated by Paul, would require a 2024 construction start, he stated. Before that can occur, staff noted the board will need to have information to make decisions on how to proceed.
