City of Powell River council has moved quickly and decided on a design theme and pipeline route for the new $66 million wastewater treatment plant in Townsite. With provincial and federal infrastructure grant decisions imminent, the move was made to avoid becoming bogged down in the process.
Submission for funding is expected to be soon and sudden, according to city councillor and liquid waste management steering committee chair Karen Skadsheim.
Skadsheim said the infrastructure funding announcement from federal and provincial governments is about to happen and there will be a narrow window of application time. It is imperative to have the design concept done for submission, she added.
Before the two options for the look of the plant were presented for public engagement on May 10, the majority of councillors were leaning toward approving a natural integration design and a conveyance route for the pipeline from Westview to the new facility along Willingdon Beach Trail, and that is what they did at the regular meeting on May 17.
“We have the direction to do the final drawing and there will be some decisions on that but we will be moving forward on a natural integration theme in that location,” said Skadsheim.
The location is a 10-acre site encompassing the existing Townsite treatment plant below Larch and Laburnum avenues.
Council was given two options to choose from: a heritage design and natural integration.
The heritage design was notable for incorporating a wall in the shape of one of Powell River’s signature Hulks, which was almost universally rejected by Powell River residents who attended a public information session and participated in the city’s online survey.
“As far as the architecture is concerned, to make it look like a battleship and thinking that's heritage, not so much,” said Townsite Ratepayers Association chair Willem Van Delft.
Not all of the natural integration design’s bells and whistles that city staff and project contractor Associated Engineering had incorporated will be included. The concept included living roofs, a living wall, a railing that plays a melody when struck and a picnic area.
Councillor Rob Southcott made it clear that with the cost of the largest infrastructure project in Powell River’s history, he has expectations that practicality will be focused on, as was first agreed by council, he said.
“We decided on something that could be expanded, highly practical on an operational and proven technology standpoint and built to modern standards,” said Southcott. “But aesthetics need to follow those same expectations and not cost us an arm and a leg to maintain.”
City director of infrastructure Tor Birtig said the city heard from the public that the wall should not be completely covered in foliage but have various interconnected pieces of green wall, mural and concrete with a specific design inlaid into it.
Many comments from more than 200 local residents who attended the public event or completed the online survey were critical of the living wall and raised concerns about proper installation and maintenance.
Skadsheim said she wants the public involved through to the final design, which is something Van Delft said he is glad to hear. The ratepayers association has been critical of the city’s approach to public input on the project.
“It's always been my vision that we need to be an information arm to the city council,” said Van Delft. “They are the top of the food chain here in Powell River. They have the mandate and responsibility to make decisions.”
As for the approvals made by council, Van Delft said he would vote for the natural integration if given the chance, but the conveyance route approved by council to put a pipeline along Willingdon Trail is another matter.
The pipe would extend from the existing Westview Water Treatment Facility to the new plant in Townsite via Willingdon Beach Trail.
“I have recommended against the conveyance of a pipeline through Willingdon Beach Park,” said Van Delft. “It's a mistake.”
