On June 18, 2016, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) conducted a referendum for Phase 1 of the South Sewer Project. Qualified electors were asked to vote to determine support for the next steps of a community wastewater treatment system for parts of Royston and Union Bay, including Kilmarnock.
The South Sewer Project was a community wastewater (sewer) treatment system proposed for Royston and Union Bay that included a mainly gravity-fed collection system and a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the area. Collected wastewater would be treated at the WWTP and then piped to connect with the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre’s outfall at Cape Lazo.
The first phase of the project included 950 homes – the core residential hubs of Royston and Union Bay, plus the Kilmarnock neighbourhood. The project was to be in partnership with the K’ómoks First Nation, which owns land in the area.
Ballot Questions
Eligible voters were asked two separate questions:
Bylaw Approval
Are you in favour of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) adopting the following bylaws:
- Bylaw No. 426 south sewer service (shared capital) establishment;
- Bylaw No. 427 south sewer service (area ‘A’ capital) establishment; and
- Bylaw No. 428 south sewer service (operations) establishment;
which will permit the CVRD to establish the South Sewer Service for the construction and operation of sewage treatment facilities, a sewer forcemain and collection system and associated infrastructure to serve portions of Electoral Area A with a maximum total annual requisition limit for the three services of $2,004,000 dollars, resulting in a maximum annual parcel tax of:
(a) $660 under Bylaw No. 426;
(b) $740 under Bylaw No. 427;
(c) $636 under Bylaw No. 428; and - South Sewer Service (Shared Capital) Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 429, 2016
which will permit the CVRD to borrow an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 for the purpose of constructing infrastructure authorized under Bylaw No. 426?
Yes or No?
Partnership Agreement
Are you in favour of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) entering into a partnering agreement based on the following concept:
the service to be provided under a fixed price, performance based partnering agreement will be the design, construction and partial financing of sewage treatment facilities, a sewer forcemain and collection system and associated infrastructure (the “Project”) and a long term fixed price agreement for subsequent operation of the Project subject only to increases due to inflation;
where the maximum term of the agreement is 30 years;
where the maximum amount of the liability to be incurred by the CVRD in connection with borrowing, life cycle costing, operations and management of the Project is $60,000,000 in 2016 dollars; and
where the wastewater treatment plant, forcemain, collection system and associated infrastructure will remain under public ownership?
Yes or No?
Official results of the South Sewer Service Referendum from the voting held June 18, 2016 on Phase 1 of the South Sewer Project. Estimated voter turnout was 44%.
South Sewer Service and Loan Authorization Bylaws
| Yes | 282 votes cast (29%) |
|---|---|
| No | 681 votes cast (71%) |
Partnership Agreement
| Yes | 238 votes cast (25%) |
|---|---|
| No | 729 votes cast (75%) |
estimated voter turnout: 44 percent.
The official results of the South Sewer Assent Voting - phase 1 South Sewer Service Referendum