The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) board approved holding a referendum on June 18, 2016 for the south sewer project. The south sewer project is a multi-phase, multi-partner project that would see the construction of a new centralized wastewater collection system and water resource recovery facility in the south region of the CVRD serving residents within Royston and Union Bay including Kilmarnock.
“The south sewer project would utilize a combination of innovative policy and technology to create a sustainable and effective wastewater collection and treatment solution for the south region,” explains CVRD Board Chair Jolliffe.
Project costs have been further refined since the project team’s well-attended open house in March this year. Phase 1 of the south sewer project is currently estimated to cost $56.2 million (in 2019 dollars). The project is on track to secure roughly $35 million in grant funding. The remaining costs will be financed and amortized over 30 years and recovered from property owners connected to the system by a parcel tax. The estimated cost at this time is roughly $1,804 per year per parcel including operating and maintenance. The maximum requisition being presented in the referendum is $2,036 per year per parcel to provide a buffer for things like unforeseen increases in interest rates or construction costs. For more information on the south sewer project please see the attached backgrounder [PDF - 650 KB].
Planning is continuing on additional project details, including siting of pump stations and the wastewater treatment plant. Decisions are expected at the end of May for these locations. Residents and property owners in Phase 1 of the project can expect to hear more updates from the project team about planning progress and updated costs via newsletters and community info sessions to be held in May and June.
Regular polls will be open on Saturday, June 18, 2016 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Royston Elementary School (3830 Warren Avenue, Royston, BC) and Union Bay Community Church Hall (5533 Island Highway, Union Bay, BC).
Advance polls will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at CVRD boardroom (550B Comox Road, Courtenay, BC).
There is no need to pre-register to vote, as the registration of all electors for this referendum will take place at the time of voting.
Resident electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) that together show the place of residence and the elector’s name. Picture identification is not necessary. Non-resident property electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) that show the place of residence and their name, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property (such as a title certificate or property tax notice), and, if applicable, written consent from the other property owners. If there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector and vote.
Qualified electors may vote by mail if they have a physical disability, illness or injury that prevents them from voting at another voting opportunity, or if they expect to be absent from the CVRD on general voting day and at the times of all advance voting. A mail ballot package can be requested by contacting the CVRD office for an application to vote by mail at 250-334-6000.
For more information please visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/vote.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.