In This Week’s Editor’s Note:
- Port Alberni: BC Housing six-storey, 55-unit supportive housing project
- Comox Valley: $100+ million upgrades for the Water Pollution Control Centre
- qathet: Tender for a new well at Myrtle Pond
Port Alberni: BC Housing six-storey, 55-unit supportive housing project
City of Port Alberni Council adopted third reading and final adoption of Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments for a City-owned property at 3027 2nd Avenue. The proposed project is a six-storey, 55-unit supportive housing project and is being advanced by BC Housing, with architectural services provided by Number Ten Architectural Group. The building would include studio units with on-site support services and shared amenities. A public hearing was held on December 1, 2025, where Council heard extensive feedback both in support of additional housing and raising concerns related to location, scale, parking, and neighbourhood impacts. The project will now proceed to the permitting stage.
Comox Valley: $100+ million upgrades for the Water Pollution Control Centre
The Comox Valley Sewage Commission has approved the Site Master Plan (SMP) for the Comox Valley Water Pollution Control Centre (CVWPCC), recommending a design-bid-build procurement approach for the CVWPCC Phase 4 upgrades to be completed in 2030. Engagement with the service users, First Nations, the Liquid Waste Management Plan Joint Technical and Public Advisory Committee will now begin and staff will continue with detailed design with HDR Engineering. As proposed, the Class D estimate for the Phase 4 upgrades is $113.4 million in 2029, which is the anticipated midpoint of construction. The anticipated borrowing for the project is $82.4 million. The approximate cost per connection impact of long-term borrowing for the project ranges from $220-$240 per connection depending on whether or not the application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Strategy Priorities Fund grant is successful. An open house will be held in February to inform the community about SMP and associated costs for the service. A second open house will be held in April to present the key elements of the LWMP. It is expected the Stage 3 Liquid Waste Management Planning (LWMP) will be submitted to the province the summer of 2026, and the Phase 4 upgrades for the CVWPCC will be included as part of that report. Project tenders are expected to be released in 2027.
qathet: Tender for a new well at Myrtle Pond
qathet Regional District is requesting Tenders from qualified proponents to drill a 200mm well to an approximate depth of two hundred and forty feet for the Myrtle Pond Water System. In 2025, the Committee of the Whole recommended construction of a new well and installation of associated equipment at the Myrtle Pond Water System at a cost of $142,500. The system has been experiencing water supply issues over the last few years and the situation recently intensified. In July 2025, the Regional District (qRD) was forced to implement Stage 4 water restrictions due to challenges with the main well. This opportunity closed February 17; see the tender section for more details.
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