A multi-year project to upgrade the water equipment making up the Bluewater Park local service area will proceed following the approval of a loan authorization bylaw.
The move comes due to continually failing and aging equipment in the Bluewater Park (BWP) zone. The local service area (LSA) has been forced to draw on wells in neighbouring Kind Edward Bay (KEB), however this solution is becoming less feasible as KEB continues to add residents and more demand is placed on their water supply.
A number of substantial fixes were discussed late last year during council meetings and a Committee of the Whole with representatives from the three area local advisory committees (LAC) – BWP, KEB, and Bowen Bay (BB). The solution reached was to pursue a loan authorization bylaw (LAB) of $3.1 million by BWP to upgrade equipment in all three LAC’s.
The cost would be borne almost entirely by BWP residents, meaning the LAB had to pass a Petition Against process by property owners in the LSA. Following the 30-day period to voice opposition to the loan, just 29 of the area’s 153 homes (19%) representing 17 per cent of the total assessed value had petitioned against, falling far short of the 50 per cent threshold required in both categories to quash the plan. The money will be collected through a new parcel tax, and cost BWP residents about $1,323 a year over 30 years.
Director of engineering Patrick Graham told council last week he expects the province to have the funds ready by May, allowing for design work and contract tendering to be complete by the fall. Well upgrades and most of the water main upgrades could then start late this year and finish by Spring 2024.
The remaining water main work along Spyglass Road will take place in Summer 2024 for environmental reasons. Eight culverts will also be replaced during this later round of work, which the municipality will cover costs for.
Phase 2 work, replacing water mains which are less damaged or near end of life, is estimated to take place in 2025. Exploration of potential new wells will also take place at this time.
