Replacing the sanitary sewer main at Canoe Beach and along the city’s lease lots is considered a top priority by city staff.
“This is a high priority project since the existing force main is located on the beach and has minimal cover,” states a report from city engineer Rob Niewenhuizen to council. “In some locations it is completely exposed. There is a higher risk of damage to the exposed sections of the force main from boats, debris, etc.”
The project, replacing 825 metres of 150-millimetre-diameter asbestos force main with 200-mm PVC force main, which will be relocated from the beach to the laneway, is estimated at a cost of $300,000.
The staff report explains the Canoe force main is one of two components making up the total foreshore rehabilitation project. The second component of the project is the foreshore gravity main from Raven to Appleyard.
The city borrowed $1.8 million, which was expected to be enough to cover both components.
However the estimated cost is now $300,000 over that initial figure.
Although staff had anticipated completing both the Canoe force main and the foreshore gravity main in January and February of 2016, the city’s application for a grant from the British Columbia New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund was not approved.
A second application will be submitted for the same fund as staff believe the foreshore main work fits the criteria well.
However, successful applicants won’t be notified until after the closing date in April 2016 and, to be successful, the work can’t have started.
So the foreshore project from Raven to Appleyard will be delayed until January 2017.
“Staff believes that the exposed Canoe Forcemain represents a higher risk and are concerned about delaying this component further. The Foreshore Gravity Main Project could be delayed, however, with any significant increase in risk,” states the report. “It is therefore recommended that the two projects be split…”