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Public feedback leads CVRD to choose ‘Scenario C’

Dear editor,

On behalf of the project team working on the Comox Valley Regional District’s south region liquid waste management plan (LWMP), I want to thank the community for the letters, emails, phone calls and visits provided over the last six weeks sharing feedback on the four short-listed options for wastewater management in the Royston/Union Bay area.

We heard from many residents and members of the broader community about the importance of restoring and protecting the environment in Baynes Sound, the significance of the estimated costs and the need for the project to move forward.

The community was encouraged to return feedback by the end of February to help inform a triple-bottom-line analysis and risk assessment to be undertaken by the public and technical advisory committees and steering committee. That challenging work occurred last week over two days and ultimately led to  Scenario ‘C’ – discharge off Cape Lazo to the Strait of Georgia – being recommended for referral to south sewer project partners K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) and the Village of Cumberland.

Scenario C would see wastewater from the area treated at a facility in the south region (location to be determined), then piped across the estuary and through the Town of Comox to the existing Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre on Brent Road. There, it would be combined with effluent from the existing facility and discharged through a single outfall.

This scenario is now with the KFN for review until early April, at which time their feedback will be considered by the LWMP steering committee. The Village of Cumberland will then also consider their involvement and the next steps for their own LWMP process. If all three project partners agree the Cape Lazo scenario is the best approach, a draft CVRD south region LWMP will be developed and brought back to the public for further consultation this summer.

We expect to communicate a project update through our spring newsletter in May.

Once again – thank-you. Public feedback is a critical part of the LWMP process and we appreciate all of those who took the time to share their thoughts.

Kris La Rose, P. Eng.

Manager, Liquid Waste Planning

Comox Valley Regional District