Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) will receive funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Rural and Northern Communities Program. The $1,989,000 in joint federal-provincial funding will enable completion of upgrades to the Maliview Wastewater System on Salt Spring Island while significantly reducing costs to be covered by local ratepayers.
Detailed design work is currently underway to refine cost estimates and inform next steps, including a decision to proceed with a borrowing bylaw and begin construction in 2023.
In 2020, the CRD estimated construction costs to be approximately $2,200,000 based on preliminary designs. A combination of factors including escalating construction costs, inflation, availability of materials and supplies, and construction demand are expected to be reflected in an updated estimate to be provided along with detailed designs. This estimate will inform preparation of a borrowing bylaw and approval process for Maliview ratepayers.
The alternative approval process (AAP) is most commonly used in relation to long‑term borrowing bylaws as it is a less expensive option than using a referendum to obtain assent. Unless 10% of the affected electors (ratepayers) sign a counter-petition opposing the bylaw, the bylaw will obtain approval to proceed. The local sewer commission is expected to review updated estimates and designs later this year before deciding whether to recommend a borrowing bylaw and approval process to the Electoral Areas Committee and CRD Board in December 2022/January 2023.
About the Maliview Wastewater System
The Maliview Wastewater System was built in the late 1970s by a private developer and was transferred to the CRD in 1979, servicing approximately 100 properties in a semi-rural residential community on Salt Spring Island.
The Maliview Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a key component of the system, providing secondary treatment and discharging treated effluent into the marine receiving environment of Trincomali Channel.
In response to the WWTP consistently experiencing challenges in meeting regulatory requirements, the CRD created an action plan to upgrade the facility and bring it into regulatory compliance, which will be the final phase of the project.
For more information about the project, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/maliview
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
-30-
For media inquiries, please contact:
Karla Campbell, Senior Manager
Salt Spring Island Electoral Area
Tel: 250.538.4300