In a closed meeting held on July 8, 2024, Council reviewed options for how the District might meet funding shortfall for the District's portion of capital costs associated with Metro Vancouver’s new capital construction cost projections.
After reviewing options, Council directed staff to prepare a proposed 5-year financial plan that reflects a cost-recovery approach where the previously anticipated regional costs for the project continue to be reflected in utility rates, but the incremental costs of the new budget projections and budget shortfall are met by establishing a special North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Levy. In this meeting, Council directed staff to release this decision for public information at the next scheduled Finance & Audit Committee meeting.
At the Finance & Audit Committee meeting held on September 23, 2024, the committee made the following recommendation:
THAT
1. the Finance and Audit Committee endorse the following bylaws:
- Solid Waste Utility Bylaw No. 4740. 2012, Amendment Bylaw No. 5348, 2024; and
- Waterworks Regulation Bylaw No. 5260, 2023, Amendment Bylaw No. 5349, 2024;
- Sewer and Drainage Regulation Bylaw No. 5263, 2023, Amendment Bylaw No. 5350, 2024;
2. the bylaws be forwarded to Council for consideration
Council will receive the 2025 Utility rate reports and read the bylaw amendments for a first, second, and third time at their regular meeting on Monday, November 25, 2024. Final reading and adoption is expected to follow in early December.
Project background
The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant (NSWWTP) is a new facility currently under construction that will serve over 300,000 residents and businesses in the District of West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). The new plant is designed to support anticipated population growth and treat wastewater more effectively and sustainably which will improve the quality of treated wastewater released into the Burrard Inlet.
The NSWWTP will replace the existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant which is at the end of its operational life and must be replaced to comply with new federal regulations that require a higher level of treatment. First announced by Metro Vancouver in 2011, the NSWWTP project originally had an estimated regional cost of $700 million, which was later raised to $1.058 billion. However, since then, several factors have led to a revised cost of $3.86 billion.
While Metro Vancouver sets the overall funding framework, each municipality decides how to recover its portion of these costs. The District of West Vancouver is proposing to recover the incremental costs through a special North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Levy, using an approach tied to property assessments.
To learn about the project, funding, impact on District property and business owners, and find answers to some of the most common questions, please visit westvancouver.ca/NSWWTP.