Another step of approval for Powell River’s new Townsite wastewater treatment plant is the selection of the conveyance route from Westview to the new location.
At the City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting on April 17, council had its first look at the two options it is being asked to consider.
City director of infrastructure Tor Birtig recommended council select the Willingdon Beach Trail route over the Marine Avenue route.
“The capital costs to go through those two routes is basically the same,” said Birtig. ”We are looking at approximately $6.2 million for the Willingdon Beach Trail and Marine Avenue comes in slightly higher at $6.21 million. So those capital costs are in essence the same.”
Birtig said the problem with the Marine Avenue route is operational energy and equipment costs because of extra horsepower required for pumping.
“What that translates to is electrical costs for the Willingdon Beach Trail would be approximately $32,000 a year, while the Marine Avenue cost would be $122,000,” said Birtig. “So that's a $90,000 difference in energy alone.”
Extra horsepower also means more costly pumps, which would need replacement after approximately 15 years, according to Birtig.
“After 15 years the total cost would be over $700,00 for the Willingdon Beach Trail for replacement of pumps and electrical, while Marine Avenue would be $2.3 million,” said Birtig.
Councillor Rob Southcott said within those cost considerations, energy efficiency is particularly relevant.
“When we're talking about money and the economic difference between the two plans,” said Southcott, “that money interprets very directly into carbon footprint and energy utilization, which is consistent with an intention stated by council three years ago.”
The biggest concern with the Willingdon Beach Trail route is from Powell River residents wanting to protect the popular seaside walk, according to Birtig. The conveyance project would require excavation of a trench along the pathway for an 18-inch pipe, one metre in depth, he said.
“We're talking about a very narrow trench that would encompass that pipe and we would do whatever it took to mitigate as much of those tree roots as possible,” said Birtig. He added that directional drilling could be used to avoid the root masses of 15 trees identified as being "of concern."
Councillor Russell Brewer said he was confident a pipe can be put along pathway and the trail will look much as it does now.
“It's not going to be destroyed, as has been implied,” said Brewer. “It will be a better trail in the end. I walk the trail all the time. I value that trail as much as everybody else and to continuously have insinuations that somehow we want to destroy it by potentially putting in a pipe there is ridiculous, frankly.”
Staff is awaiting numerous reports, including the ground-penetrating radar and 3D imaging report on the route, and archaeological and riparian assessments.
Mayor Dave Formosa promised a full public consultation process.
"I'm sure the general public will have every opportunity to see how we move forward,” said Formosa, “on each stage as we get to construction.”
