DUNCAN – The Cowichan Valley Regional District has been successful in obtaining two significant grants to assist with enhancing wastewater infrastructure in Cobble Hill and Mill Bay and a grant to assist Ditidaht First Nation with maintaining a reliable power supply.
The Federal Gas Tax Fund will contribute $1,900,000 for a wastewater integration and re-use upgrade in Cobble Hill and $5,888,894 for the first phase of a wastewater integration project in Mill Bay.
The Cobble Hill Sewer System project will combine two existing CVRD-operated sewer systems, Twin Cedars Sewer System and Cobble Hill Sewer System, into one integrated sewer system.
The project will provide customers of the system with long-term, cost effective, high quality wastewater treatment and allow for the expansion of the effluent re-use for irrigation in community parks. Expansion of the collection system to allow servicing of homes in the Cobble Hill core, where requested, will be included in the project.
The Mill Bay project will allow for the integration of small existing problematic community wastewater systems, in and around the Mill Bay area, into a central system that will meet the high quality standards required under the South Sector Liquid Management Plan.
It is expected that this new combined system will serve as a starting point for long term management of waste water in Mill Bay that will be developed under an amendment of the existing Liquid Waste Management
Plan, which is currently underway.
Opportunities for re-use of effluent and the protection of the receiving freshwater and marine environment are also goals of this project. Ditidaht First Nation will receive $166,180 to ensure reliable power supply for their community on Nitinat Lake near the mouth of Caycuse River.
A planning process with BC Hydro will determine the technical and financial viabilities of regulating their line voltage in isolation from the BC Hydro grid in association with a proposed hydropower project.
“These grants are important for the CVRD in allowing us to develop a more strategic, integrated approach to dealing with wastewater challenges in the Cobble Hill and Mill Bay areas. We are also pleased to be able to assist Ditidaht with improving access to reliable power for their community.,” states Board Chair Jon Lefebure.
“Communities across BC are looking for funding to replace, upgrade and expand local infrastructure,” said Director Wendy Booth, UBCM president. “The federal Gas Tax Fund is accelerating the pace of infrastructure renewal through the transfer of close to $3 billion since 2005 for projects in our province. I appreciate the Government of Canada’s long term commitment to fund priorities identified by BC local governments.”
“Improvements to local infrastructure are so important. They make our communities even better places to live,” said Selina Robinson, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We are pleased to partner with local governments and the federal government to improve the daily lives of British Columbians.”
To see all of the projects funded through this intake, click here.
