The Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) Pender Harbour Transfer Station will be re-opening the share shed on April 5.

The share shed is a space at the transfer station for users to leave an item that could be picked up and reused by another member of the community at no charge. The share shed will be open from Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

It’s important for residents to note that the share shed is not there to bypass paying for waste brought to the transfer station. The share shed is being reintroduced as a six-month pilot program where items can be dropped off at no cost. This will be reassessed and drop off charges may be applied in the future.

Pender Harbour and Egmont residents are encouraged to contribute good quality items that are no longer wanted but could still be used by others in the community. Staff at the site will be providing quality control of the items going into the share shed and will have the final say on whether items can be added.

The following items are permitted (must be clean and in good/working condition):

• Children’s toys
• Housewares
• Furniture (as space permits)
• Small appliances
• Large appliances (in neutral colours and as space permits)
• Sports equipment
• Tools

The following items are not permitted:

• baby/child safety items (including car seats)
• Clothing, fabric, textiles, bedding, curtains, towels
• Construction materials
• Household hazardous waste program (paint, cleaning products, or fuel)
• Mattresses
• Liquids of any kind
• Sofa beds
• Liquids of any kind

For more information, visit www.scrd.ca/transfer-station.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has launched a community-wide effort to renovate the beloved Hopkins Landing dock.

The trusty old dock had to be closed to public access in June 2023 after a structural assessment found it was unsafe for public use. Following a report to the SCRD Board, staff received budget to move forward with the dock renovation project.

An engineering consultant has now been secured and it’s time to hear from our community and users of the dock. What would you like to see done as part of the renovation process to improve your experience of Hopkins Landing?

Lots of information about the project and ways to share your ideas and memories can be found at letstalk.scrd.ca/Hopkins.

You can also join SCRD staff and the local contractor working on this project for an open house between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on May 1 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.

If you are unable to attend, you can also join the online portion of the open house which will commence with a presentation at 6 p.m.

Information on how to join the open house virtually will be provided on the Lets Talk Hopkins Landing page and the SCRD website prior to the open house taking place.

Utility bills for 2024 are being mailed out to Sunshine Coast property owners who receive water, wastewater and curbside collection service from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).

As you will see from your bill, water rates have increased. In mid-April, SCRD Chair, Leonard Lee, provided a message to the community in the Coast Reporter newspaper with some context as to why water rates have gone up. You can read this message here.

Here is some further information about 2024 utility bills:

Rates

This year’s rates can be found at www.scrd.ca/utility-bill and at letstalk.scrd.ca/utility-bill

An easy way to pay

You can pay your utility bill by visiting www.scrd.ca/pay and selecting ‘Utility Bills’ on the menu that is provided. All you need to pay is your address and a credit card.

There are several other ways to pay which are all outlined at www.scrd.ca/utility-bill.

Questions about your utility bill

Last year, more than 2,000 calls and emails were received by the SCRD from the community in relation to utility bills.

Our staff aim to respond to enquiries within 48-hours. Members of the public attending the front counter at the main Field Road office may experience a delay while staff deal with other enquiries.

The SCRD has a respectful workplace policy, and the safety and wellbeing of our staff is our primary concern.  The SCRD asks that members of the community be respectful when speaking with staff. Any foul or disparaging language will not be tolerated and will result in your call being terminated immediately.

You can also ask questions about your bill at letstalk.scrd.ca/utility-bill.

Other questions

Information on options to pay monthly and deadlines for payments will be available on the bill. You can also check out the frequently asked questions that are listed at www.scrd.ca/utility-bill.

Each year, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) brings in Stage 1 water conservation regulations on May 1. After successive years of extreme drought, water regulations are more important than ever to secure water supply into late summer and early fall.

The regulations outlined below apply to all SCRD water customers on the Sunshine Coast.

Regulations define the types of watering and separate plants into three categories: lawns; trees, shrubs, and flowers; and food producing plants. Watering schedules can vary in different water systems across the region.

Stage 1 Watering Schedule

 Watering Lawns

Sprinklers, soaker hoses or micro spray can be used to water lawns according to the Stage 1 schedule which is:

• For even numbered addresses, lawn sprinkling is allowed Thursday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
• For odd numbered addresses, lawn sprinkling is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Watering trees, shrubs, flowers and food producing plants

Sprinklers, soaker hoses or micro spray can be used to water trees, shrubs, flowers and food producing plants and trees according to the Stage 1 schedule:

• For even numbered addresses, sprinkling is allowed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• For odd numbered addresses, sprinkling is allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

During Stage 1 water conservation regulations, hand held hoses with nozzles, hand held containers,

or drip-irrigation can be used anytime for watering lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers or food producing plants and trees.

Rain sensors are required on all irrigation systems to prevent watering in the rain.

Other uses of water

Pressure washing sidewalks and driveways, windows or exterior building surfaces is permitted only during Stage 1.

“As we have communicated on a number of occasions in the past few weeks, our snowpack which is vital to our summer water supply, is well below average this year,” says Shane Walkey, Manager of Utility Services. “Along with the rest of the Province, we are gearing up for a summer which could see significant drought. As a result, there is potential that Stage 2 water conservation regulations could be implemented earlier than in previous years.”

For more information, contact the SCRD at 604-885-6806 or infrastructure@scrd.ca. Visit www.scrd.ca/water-regulations for further details.

Staff do not take bylaw complaints by phone. Please submit bylaw complaints using the online form at www.scrd.ca/bylaw-complaint-form

Annual maintenance pool closures will take place as usual this Summer as the Sunshine Coast Regional District works to extend the life of the facilities and minimize unexpected closures throughout the year.

During these closures, water is drained from the wet areas (pool, hot tub etc.) of some of the facilities so that the maintenance work can be completed.

The pool closures are scheduled to ensure that at least two pools are open to the public at any one time.

Sechelt Aquatic Centre – The entire facility will be closed from Saturday, May 26 to Monday, July 1, re-opening on Tuesday, July 2. This year, the fire suppression sprinklers will be replaced at the Sechelt Aquatic Centre. In order to complete this work, all wet areas (main pool, leisure pool, lazy river, hot tub, steam room and sauna), change rooms, weight room and fitness studio will be closed. www.scrd.ca/sechelt-pool/

Gibsons and District Aquatic Facility – The entire facility will be closed from Monday, July 1 to Sunday, July 21, re-opening on Monday, July 22. www.scrd.ca/gibsons-pool/

Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre – The entire facility will be closed from Saturday, July 27 to September 2, re-opening on Tuesday, September 3. www.scrd.ca/pender-pool/

Learn more at www.scrd.ca/recreation.

Katherine Lake Park and Campground will remain closed until at least after the May long weekend due to ongoing emergency road repairs.

Heavy rainfall in February caused significant damage to the park’s access road, leading to a sinkhole which poses major safety risks. The road was closed after an inspection found the road has structural damage including an undersized and corroded culvert system.

Repairs of the road involve a complete replacement of the culvert system and reinforcement of the road base. All this work must be approved by both Provincial and Federal authorities due to the fish bearing stream which runs beneath the road. Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) staff are doing all they can to expedite the remediation process, and have already engaged the professional services required to complete the work.

Picture of the sinkhole at Katherine Lake Park.

Unfortunately, the road work will not be completed in time for the typical opening of the Katherine Lake Campground.

“We understand that this is frustrating for those who use the park and campground but it’s just not safe to use the road right now,” says Shelley Gagnon, SCRD General Manager of Community Services. “The remediation and upgrade of the road will be completed with climate resiliency in mind so that we are building for the future, and other potential heavy rain events that are completely out of our control.”

Anyone who has reserved a camp space for the coming weeks will be contacted directly by the operator of the Katherine Lake Campground for a refund.

Further updates will be provided when available both at www.scrd.ca and www.katherinelakecampground.ca.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has launched a community-wide effort to revamp the beloved Hopkins Landing dock and this Wednesday (May 1) will host an open house for community input on the project.

The open house will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre at 700 Park Road, Gibsons. The contractor for the project will provide a presentation at 6 p.m., followed by plenty of opportunities to speak with both the contractor and SCRD staff about the project.

If you are joining virtually, you can view the presentation and ask questions from 6 p.m. via the Zoom meeting link below. The presentation will also be streamed on YouTube.

• Join the meeting by clicking here.
• Watch the meeting by clicking here.

Lots more information about the project and ways to share your ideas and memories can be found at letstalk.scrd.ca/Hopkins. To date, over 120 visitors to the page have provided valuable input on the project. You can continue to share your input on this page until May 3^rd.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is starting its annual Islands Clean Up program, a residential garbage and recycling collection service for island residences on Anvil, Gambier, Keats, and surrounding islands, Thormanby, Trail, Hardy and Nelson Islands.

Seven separate events are planned for July and August to collect garbage and scrap metal for recycling. This year’s special items for collection include mattresses, boxsprings, fridges and freezers.

Register, review the schedule and find information on accepted items at https://letstalk.scrd.ca/islands-cleanup. Registration for flags stops and special items is required.

Home Composter Rebates are back for another year. The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is giving out rebates of up to $100 to start or expand composting at home.

Rebates are available to homeowners from Egmont to West Howe Sound, the islands within the SCRD, and in the municipalities of District of Sechelt, shíshálh Nation Government District and Town of Gibsons.

Applications will be accepted until September 1, 2024 or until funding for this year runs out.

Find more information at www.scrd.ca/composting including:

• Eligibility criteria,
• Application process (including forms),
• Resources for choosing a composter that fits the needs of your home, and
• How to mitigate potential wildlife interactions by composting responsibly.

Follows us on Facebook this week for daily tips and to learn more about composting at https://www.facebook.com/sunshinecoastrd.

Interested applicants must apply and be approved before purchasing a composter to receive a rebate.

Questions and completed applications should be sent to infrastructure@scrd.ca.

Due to ongoing road repairs, Katherine Lake Park and Campground will remain closed until at least early July.

Damage to the road and subsequent closure.

As was communicated in this update three weeks ago, heavy rainfall in February caused significant damage to the park’s access road, leading to a sinkhole which posed major safety risks. The road was closed after an inspection where the road was found to have structural damage including an undersized and corroded culvert system.

Update on repairs.

Repairs of the road involve a complete replacement of the culvert system and reinforcement of the road base. As the stream that runs below the road is fish bearing, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) must receive the proper permits to conduct the repair work (Federal and Provincial).

Over the past two months, the SCRD hired contractors to complete surveys, hydrological work and engineering design for the road repair. Reports provided by these experts are being prepared for submission to the relevant authorities.

The SCRD has been advised that permits may not be received for several weeks, until late June at the earliest. SCRD staff are doing all they can to expedite this process.

Campground bookings.

The operator for the Katherine Lake Campground will contact those with bookings up until early July directly to cancel camp site bookings.

Next update.

The SCRD understands that cancellation of campground bookings and the closure of the park is an inconvenience both to visitors to the Sunshine Coast and residents. However, the vital work to repair the access road cannot be completed until permitting has been received.

The SCRD will provide a further update in mid-June on the efforts being undertaken to repair the access road and whether further cancellations are anticipated for campground bookings.

Summer is on the way and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is providing a little refresher for residents and visitors to enjoy beaches and beach accesses responsibly.

The SCRD currently maintains over 40 beach accesses with each one offering a unique experience of our beautiful shorelines and waterways. Some are remote, others are close to homes, so it is important to be aware of your surroundings and respectful of residents and wildlife.

When entering a beach, please keep pets on leashes and of course, clean up after them. The only thing beach users should be cleaning off their feet at the end of a fun, sun filled day is sand! Believe it or not, there are still some visitors to beaches who somehow manage to forget their garbage. Please pack out what you bring in, leave no garbage behind. A bottle, candy wrapper or half eaten sandy jam sandwich can really ruin the beautiful beaches we have.

In many beach accesses, parking is limited and some popular accesses may be restricted (tow-away zones). To reduce congestion and to allow access by emergency vehicles, local beach users might consider walking or biking to the beach.

In the summer months, many of us have a fire on the beach to welcome the sunset and catch up with friends and family. Beach fires are permitted year-round but may be banned by fire departments during high risk periods. The SCRD asks that visitors follow these regulations when starting up a campfire:

• A campfire is defined as a fire no larger than 0.5 metres high and 0.5 metres in diameter.
• Select your spot below the high-tide line and make sure to construct your containment ring with rocks.
• You must keep at least eight litres of water or a hand tool at all times while the campfire is lit.
• Before you leave the area for any amount of time, your campfire must be fully extinguished. The ashes of your fire must be cool to the touch.
• The area around your campfire must be clear of debris and anything combustible.

In the Gibsons area, there are different fire regulations for the two SCRD rural areas; Elphinstone and West Howe Sound and the Town of Gibsons.

Campfires are allowed in Elphinstone and West Howe Sound year-round but may be banned by the Fire Chief during high risk periods. The Town of Gibsons does not allow campfires at any time.

If you are unsure if your address is in an SCRD rural area or the Town of Gibsons, you can search your address here.

If you have any concerns or wish to report any damage to our beach accesses, contact parks at 604-885-6802 or email parks@scrd.ca. For information about beach accesses, visit https://www.scrd.ca/beach-access

To view the parks bylaw click here.

After a week of warm dry weather, the BC Wildfire Service is prohibiting  Category 2 (back yard) and Category 3  (industrial) open fires in the Coastal Fire Centre effective 12:00 noon Friday May 17, 2024.

In addition to these prohibitions, the Coastal Fire Centre will also be restricting the following activities and equipment:

• Fireworks
• Sky Lanterns
• Binary Exploding Targets
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
• Air Curtain Burners

Fire Departments across the Sunshine Coast will continue to evaluate the need for further prohibitions and restrictions but with the current forecast, we are still a few weeks away from considering a Category 1 campfire prohibition.

Those who wish to have campfires must ensure that the fire is no larger than half a metre wide by half a metre high in size.

If you are planning to have a campfire, you must ensure that you always have at least eight litres of water or a hand tool with you while the campfire is lit. Before leaving your fire, you must put it out so that it is cool to the touch. Check out this [www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions/category-1-campfire-poster.pdf]resource from the BC Wildfire Service for further information.

In the Gibsons area, there are different fire regulations for the two SCRD rural areas; Elphinstone and West Howe Sound and the Town of Gibsons. Campfires are allowed in Elphinstone and West Howe Sound year-round but may be banned by the Fire Chief during high risk periods. The Town of Gibsons does not allow campfires at any time.

If you are unsure if your address is in an SCRD rural area or the Town of Gibsons, you can search your address here.

Further information on the burning ban can be found here from the BC Wildfire Service.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), along with the shíshálh Nation and other local governments on the Sunshine Coast are working on several projects to increase water supply. Moving forward, updates will be provided on these projects monthly.

This is the May update on projects and initiatives underway in the Region.

Many of these initiatives are being moved forward through a Water Supply Technical Working Group. This group meets regularly and includes representatives from the SCRD, shíshálh Nation, the District of Sechelt, Town of Gibson, and the Provincial Government.

Projects

Water Meter Program

The residential portion of the water meter installation program is underway in the District of Sechelt. This project will see over 4,000 meters installed by next year. Once in place, these meters will greatly assist with leak detection in the system and will also provide the community with valuable information about their own water use.

The SCRD is aware of recent social media discussions expressing concern over the fittings used in the water meter installation project within the District of Sechelt. To clarify, the contractor for the project has advised they are only using brass compression fittings for this project and not the fittings referred to as ‘sharkbite’ fittings. For any inquiries or to access accurate information regarding the water meter installation process, our staff are ready to assist. You can reach out through the Water Meter Project Let’s Talk Page (https://letstalk.scrd.ca/water-metering) or via email at infrastructure@scrd.ca.

Lower Crown Raw Water Reservoir

With the generous support of Province of B.C. grant funding of over $1.2 Million, the shíshálh Nation and the SCRD are confirming the technical feasibility of the Lower Crown Raw Water Reservoir project and the annual operating costs for the SCRD regional water service participants associated with the operation of the reservoir.

A decision is pending on grant applications for funding of the construction costs for this project. In addition to funding confirmation, the project requires final approval from the SCRD Board and elector approval from the regional water system participants.

Environmental Flow Needs (EFN)

The SCRD releases 200 litres of water per second from Chapman Lake, into Chapman Creek to maintain the health of the ecosystem. The SCRD has requested a reduction in this number for the early summer months which would allow for more water to be stored in Chapman Lake for late summer.

The Provincial Government has asked for a considerable amount of data, through two plans, an Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) and Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP). SCRD staff are working closely with staff from shíshálh Nation and the Province to develop a plan for EFN management that could be implemented starting this summer.

Siphons

Since 2017 siphons have been available for use at Chapman Lake and Edwards Lake during Stage 4 water conservation regulations. The SCRD have asked for the ability to leave siphons in place at Chapman Lake and Edwards Lake for the foreseeable future. As with EFN, SCRD staff are working closely with staff from shíshálh Nation and the Province. This is currently under review by the shíshálh Nation and multiple ministries at the Province.

Groundwater Wells – Sechelt

The SCRD has initiated another phase of groundwater investigations to explore the feasibility of supplementing the Chapman Water System with a new groundwater source. This investigation focuses on the Sechelt area, with five identified sites where test wells will be drilled. SCRD staff are working closely with staff from shíshálh Nation to determine shíshálh support for drilling on the selected sites. Drilling is planned to take place this summer. If results of test wells are favourable, the next phase would be design, engineering and permitting of production wells in the chosen locations.

Pender Water Systems

There are several projects underway in North and South Pender water service areas.

Many of these projects are focused on maintenance and replacement of water infrastructure. For example, several water main upgrades, upgrades to McNeil Lake dam and the design of a brand new water treatment plant for Garden Bay. The water main replacements could reduce water main breaks and associated leaks for both systems.

There are also two projects recently approved by the Board to support water supply for the South Pender Water System. A study to confirm the necessity and feasibility of several options to improve water supply for the system and a study to confirm the potential to connect the North Pender and South Pender Water Systems. This project will begin later in the year.

You can learn more about water projects under way in the region at letstalk.scrd.ca/water.

Thanks to some local support, a temporary repair has been carried out on the Katherine Lake access road.

The road had been closed since February when heavy rainfall caused a sinkhole to open on the road. The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) was recently informed that permits to allow for a permanent fix on the road may take up to two months which would further delay the opening of the park.

Today, SCRD staff worked with a local contractor who generously assisted with the temporary repair, overseen by a biologist. Staff will continue the permitting process for a permanent fix to the road but will carry out that work in the fall.

Park and Campground Access

The SCRD is working with the park operator to prepare the park and campground to open for public use as soon as possible.  Until the operator is onsite, the park and campground remain closed.

“We were expecting the park to be closed into July, so this is great news,” said Shelley Gagnon, General Manager of Community Services. “We understand that everyone is keen to get back into the park, particularly with the long weekend ahead, but our staff and park operator need a few more days to get everything in place for reopening.”

The SCRD will provide an update when the park is ready to be reopened to the public.