Councillors in Sechelt want to meet with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) in the wake of another summer and early fall that saw the SCRD impose Stage 4 water use restrictions because of a drought.
The invitation to meet came out of a discussion at the Oct. 18 council meeting. “It was put on the agenda because we were getting a lot of input from citizens on this issue and we as a council haven’t discussed it,” explained Mayor Bruce Milne.
He went on to say that with more than 5,300 properties connected to SCRD water, about 40 per cent of the total, the district has a role to play on behalf of those citizens.
The SCRD is awaiting approval from the province for the $5-million Chapman Lake expansion project while residential water metering continues to roll out. The next phase in a search for new groundwater sources will be up for budget approval in early 2018.
Sechelt had a voice at the SCRD board when those decisions were made, but councillors said they felt they aren’t fully in the picture when it comes to the regional district’s water strategy.
“In the last four years we’ve had three severe water shortages and we keep getting asked, again and again, the same questions: What’s going on with the storage? What’s going on with the source? Do we have enough water for the housing units that are getting approved around this table?” said Coun. Noel Muller. “I think that’s something that needs to be asked on behalf of the community.”
Coun. Darnelda Siegers said water sources and building a reservoir are the key issues. “I keep hearing that conversations are underway with Lehigh [operators of the gravel mine in Sechelt] with regards to a place there to actually build a reservoir, but I’ve been hearing that for a number of years.”
Other councillors also said they’ve been hearing plans for years, but not seeing results.
“For me, having a good plan is one thing, but the value in the plan is what you get out of it in results,” said Coun. Doug Wright. “So far I haven’t seen any results and I guess maybe it’s time to amend the plan. That’s probably the message I’m going to take to this meeting if we get it, because in three years I haven’t seen any results in terms of increased water resources for the existing community, never mind the existing development or the growth we’re seeing.”
Coun. Alice Lutes said, “Like others at this table, I’ve heard this talk for – it’s eight years for me, into the ninth year – and we don’t seem to be any closer.”
Milne said he thinks the pace of climate change is overtaking the timelines of the water strategy.
“We want to be prepared for next summer and the summer after that, and the next,” he said. “Climate change is accelerating and I think the plan needs to be accelerated.”
