The Regional District of Nanaimo received a $7,929,000 grant from the Growing Communities Fund (GCF).
The regional district has now selected existing projects that would benefit from the one-time funding based on the guidelines laid out by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
To determine which to allocate the funds to, staff prepared an analysis using a multi-criteria evaluation tool to prioritize projects from the RDN board’s year financial plan.
The projects with their capital costs and GCF allocation proposal are:
1. Dashwood Firehall Construction Firehall Replacement $7,384,936, ($922,274)
2. Wastewater - Southern Community GNPCC - Pump Station Upgrades $3,782,690, ($750,000)
3. Coombs Hilliers VFD Engine 105 Replacement $1,382,393 ($657,393)
4. Nanoose Bay VFD Engine 16 Replacement $1,328,940 ($528,940)
5. Descanso Bay Wharf Service Descanso Bay Emergency Wharf Gangway Replacement $121,966 ($121,966) **
6. Area A South Wellington School Remediation $1,468,396 ($300,000)
7. Southern Community GNPCC - Concrete restoration of 3 grit and 3 sedimentation $5,565,000 ($465,656)
8. River’S Edge Additional Groundwater wells and new transmission $3,630,000 ($200,000)
9. Regional Parks Mt Benson Access Improvements $500,000 ($400,000)
10. Regional Parks Lighthouse Country Regional Trail Improvements $150,000 ($150,000)
11. Northern Community FCPCC Influent Pipe Repair $1,000,000 ($125,000)
12. Nanoose Peninsula Groundwater Well - Redrilling $180,000 ($162,510
13. Oceanside Place Electric Ice Resurfacer Zamboni $200,000 ($200,000)
14. Nanoose Nanoose Bay Forcemain Replacement - Phase 1 - Lift $1,734,000 ($170,000)
15. Southern Community Syphon Screen Chamber - Access Improvement $193,320 ($193,320)
16. Northern Community Biogas System Upgrade $1,675,295 ($15,295)
17. Regional Parks Top Bridge Regional Trail - Re-alignment $120,000 ($40,000)
18. Area B Village Way Trail Accessibility Improvements $175,000 ($175,000)
19. Nanoose Peninsula New Generator $200,000 ($0.0)
20. Area F Errington Community Park Washroom and Concession $350,000 ($0.0)
21. Corporate Services Board Chambers upgrades and reconfiguration $500,000 ($500,000) ***
22. San Pareil New Watermain Installation $200,000 ($100,000)
23. Area C (E Wellington) Anders and Dorrits Nature Walk - Bridge and Trails $400,000 ($400,000)
24. Area B Rollo McClay Park Improvements $400,000 ($278,034) *
25. Area G French Creek Community Park and 1236 Island Hwy Trail $400,000 ($0.0)
26. Community Parks - Area A Cedar Playground - New Construction $350,000 ($350,000)
27. Community Parks - Area C (Extension) Extension School Lands $200,000 ($200,000) *
28. Regional Parks Descanso Bay Regional Park Campground Administration $400,000 ($0.0)
29. Water - Nanoose Peninsula Asbestos Cement Watermain Replacement $11,400,000 ($0.0)
30. Area H Lions Park Improvements - Phase $300,000 ($200,000)
For each of the projects, the value allocated to each municipality and electoral area was determined by identifying which service the project belongs to and which municipalities and electoral areas participate in that service.
While some projects are ranked higher, they still didn’t qualify for a higher amount of funding based on the formula used by staff. Some directors have decided to transfer some of their funding allocations to projects that will also have an impact to their respective regions.
Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) director Lehann Wallace made a motion to move the $100,000 funds allocated for the San Pareil new watermain installation to the River’s Edge additional groundwater wells and new transmission project which would cost $3,630,000 but only received $200,000. The motion passed with Nanaimo director Ian Thorpe and Parksville director Doug O’Brien oppposed.
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Area E (Nanoose Bay) director Bob Rogers also recommended the board reallocate $70,000 from the Nanoose Bay Forcemain Replacement (Phase 1) Lift and $62,510 from the Nanoose Peninsula Groundwater Well Redrilling to the Nanoose Bay Volunteer Fire Department Engine 16 Replacement initiative. It passed unanimously.
The Committee of the Whole also endorsed $250,000 from the Coombs-Hilliers Voluntary Fire Department Enging 105 Replacement to be redirected to the Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) Errington Community Park Washroom and Concession project. It also approved allocating $60,765 from Area A’s (Cedar, South Wellington, Yellowpoint, Cassidy) share of the GCF to South Wellington School Remediation project.
The total money the RDN will apply to projects from the GCF grant is $7,605,388 leaving a balance of $323,929. Staff will need to determine other initiatives the funds can be applied. The committee directed staff to prepare a report in the fall to provide an update on the unallocated portion of the GCF.
— NEWS Staff
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