You can now explore the Sunshine Coast from above in higher resolution than ever before!

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), in partnership with the District of Sechelt and the Town of Gibsons, is excited to announce that the latest 2024 orthophoto imagery is now available.

An orthophoto is an aerial image that has been referenced to real-world coordinates, so each pixel in the photo can be accurately located. The imagery is typically collected every three to four years to ensure that maps remain accurate and up to date.

This partnership made it possible to collect higher-resolution imagery in developed areas, to seamlessly blend with standard-resolution imagery across the rest of the region for a smooth and consistent viewing experience.

Captured during the spring and summer of 2024, the updated imagery offers a clear and detailed view of the Sunshine Coast.

Residents can explore the updated map here, to view the Sunshine Coast from a whole new perspective.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) invites you to an open house for the Coopers Green Park Enhancements project. 

The event offers an opportunity for the community to review feedback gathered from a recent community survey and explore exciting design concepts that have been developed for the park. 

Survey Responses 

The SCRD received 471 responses to the recent community survey, reflecting the community’s priorities for park improvements. The summary of these responses can be found by clicking here. 

The response from the community indicated that the most popular areas for enhancement at the park include washroom facilities and areas for social gatherings and events. Parking at Coopers Green Park and the preservation of the natural beauty of the area also ranked high.  

Open House 

When: Tuesday January 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Seaside Centre, 5790 Teredo Street, Sechelt 

Join SCRD staff and the project’s landscape architect to view and discuss design options for the park. These designs highlight themes that align with the $600,000 budget for enhancements. Can’t attend in person? No problem! The design options will be available on the Let’s Talk project page just before the open house, where you can also provide your feedback. 

Out of Scope 

A reminder that two features of the park are not in scope of this project. These include the boat ramp and the hall. A separate planning project is set to get underway for the boat ramp and the SCRD is currently in discussions with a third party to take on the operations of the hall.  

You can stay up to date on this project at letstalk.scrd.ca/coopers-green.  

The Sechelt Landfill will be closed next week on January 13 and 14, 2025 to replace the temporary scale with a new permanent one. Due to heavy machinery on site, the landfill will not be accessible to the public for the duration of the work.

The SCRD is confident the project will be completed within the planned dates. However, if a late start is required on Wednesday January 15, 2025 or if it is possible to open the site earlier than planned, information will be shared via the SCRD’s website and Facebook channel.

The most up-to-date information will be available at www.scrd.ca/landfill.

The new scale will be located by the scale house in the regular location.   While the layout will be familiar to regular users, we would like to remind the public that everyone is required to drive slowly, on and off the scale and around the site for the safety of staff and the community.

The Pender Harbour Transfer Station is open on Monday and Wednesday but will not accept loads larger than 20 yards. Directions and further information about the transfer station is available at www.scrd.ca/transfer-station/.

The SCRD understands that this causes an inconvenience to both business and residential customers of the site and appreciates their understanding.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), along with other local governments on the Sunshine Coast are working on several projects to increase water supply.

This is the December update on projects and initiatives underway in the Region.  Previous month’s updates can be found at www.scrd.ca/news.

Projects

Water Meter Program
The residential portion of the water meter installation program has been underway for ten months 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.

To date, over 3,000 water meters have been installed. You can learn more about this project at letstalk.scrd.ca/water-metering

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 or reducing the demands on that system by creating dedicated sources for recreational facilities.

This investigation focuses on the Sechelt area, with multiple identified sites where test wells will be drilled and two additional sites where established wells are located.

Pump tests have been completed at three locations to date; Cliff Gilker Park, the Sunshine Coast Arena and Sechelt Airport . These tests will establish whether there is enough yield from these wells for community consumption.

One more well will be drilled in early January at the Sechelt Hospital. The initial findings during the drilling of these wells will guide which of the remaining wells could benefit from additional pump testing.  If the test results of these wells are favourable, and if the required funding is secured, the next phase would be applications for license(s), design, engineering and permitting of production wells in the chosen location(s).

Stay informed on this project at https://letstalk.scrd.ca/groundwater.

Lower Crown Raw Water Reservoir
A decision is still pending on grant applications under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) for funding of the construction costs for this project. If funding confirmation is received, the SCRD Board and the service participants will be engaged to determine if this project will proceed.

Gray Creek
A report on the potential for Gray Creek to be used as a year-round water source will be provided to the SCRD Board in early 2025.

SCRD Staff brought forward a budget request for the design of a treatment plant at Gray Creek during Round 1 Budget discussions. You can find further information on that by clicking here and scrolling to item number two in the chart.

Langdale Well Field
Following SCRD Board direction, a report on the Langdale Well Field was brought forward to the SCRD’s Committee of the Whole in mid-December. This report included a comparison of different options for the well’s production capacity, pump design, pipeline route, and water treatment needs, looking at the costs and benefits of each. The report can be read by clicking here.

The SCRD Board will further discuss the development of the Langdale Well Field during Round 2 Budget discussions in mid-January.

Environmental Flow Needs (EFN)
The SCRD releases water from Chapman Lake into Chapman Creek to ensure that there are 200 litres of water in the lower reaches of the creek to maintain the health of the ecosystem. This is provided in addition to the water for community use.

The shíshálh Nation is collaborating with the SCRD and the Provincial Government to confirm if the EFN can be reduced without impacting the salmon populations in 2025 and 2026.

Siphons
While siphons were not required for water supply in summer 2024, the SCRD had received approval from the shíshálh Nation to use the siphons at Chapman and Edwards Lakes until early fall 2025. The provincial permits for their use in 2025 are currently being sought. The SCRD is continuing to work on securing long-term support for the use of these siphons from the shíshálh Nation and the Province.

North and South Pender Harbour Areas
Vital safety upgrades have now been completed at McNeil lake dam. This will increase the dam’s resiliency and bring it into compliance with provincial regulations.

Work continues at the Cove Cay water system with a contractor retained to complete the design and construction of an upgraded treatment process for the water treatment plant in that water system.

There are also two projects 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 be undertaken in 2025.

Budget 2025
Several other projects are being brought forward through the SCRD’s budget process for water services in the region. You can find information on these projects via the links below.

• North / South Pender Projects can be found by clicking here.
• Two reports related to Regional Water Service projects can be found by clicking the links below:
  – Budget proposal for water services
  – Budget proposal for Regional Water Service

Water Map Resource
The SCRD has developed a map to show where water projects are taking place on the Sunshine Coast. The map can be found here. Users can click on any of the locations / icons on the map and learn about each project. This information will be updated as the projects progress.

You can learn more and ask questions at any time about water projects under way in the region at letstalk.scrd.ca/water.

Starting January 1, some charges at the landfill are increasing. This follows the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board’s adoption of new fees on December 12. It has been eleven years since some of these fees were increased.  

Like many other local governments, the SCRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan and the SCRD Board support a user pay system, where the tipping fees fund the full costs of those materials that are diverted for recycling. So, as transportation, recycling and operating costs increase, so unfortunately does the tipping fee associated with these materials. Rates were last updated in 2021 for recyclables and eleven years ago, in 2013 for garbage. 

The table below outlines the changes to disposal of cardboard and mattresses and includes a schedule of increases for the next three years for metal and garbage. As the landfill runs out of capacity, the SCRD estimates the cost of garbage disposal will rise as we need to invest in new infrastructure to manage waste on the Sunshine Coast and save for closing the landfill in an environmentally safe manner.  

Cardboard and scrap metal are both highly recyclable and should not be in the garbage. To make sure recyclables can be properly recycled it is highly recommended to sort and store materials in a way that doesn’t impact on their ability to be recycled. 

For example, cardboard can become contaminated and unrecyclable if it is covered in oil or grease when it is stored with other garbage.   

 Residents can avoid fees for cardboard and metal for everyday appliances like vacuums and other small appliances by going to a local depot and recycling for free instead of bringing it to the landfill.   

For more information on the fees and what materials are accepted at the landfill, visit www.scrd.ca/landfill 

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board recently concluded Round 1 of its Budget and Rates and Fees discussions. These meetings focused on advancing projects and initiatives to maintain and enhance service levels across the region. 

A key consideration for the Board was staff capacity, given the significant number of ongoing projects that carry over from year to year. 

Rates and Fees 

During the November 21 Finance Committee meeting, the Board reviewed proposed rates and fees for services such as water, wastewater, and planning. Following Board direction, adjustments were made to the proposed rates for the Regional Water Service, with a revised report presented on November 28. 

The following water rates were adopted at the December 12, 2024 SCRD Board meeting:  

The daily cost of water utility rates is approximately $3.36 for the Regional Water System and $4.17 to $4.19 for the North and South Pender Water systems. 

Rates for individual wastewater treatment facilities can be found on their respective community pages at letstalk.scrd.ca/wastewater, where residents can also ask questions. All updated rates can be found at www.scrd.ca/utility-billing.  

Also at the December 12 Board meeting, updated fees were adopted for services including planning, building and waste disposal at the landfill. You can find the updated fees for these services linked below.  

• Landfill Fees 
• Curbside Fees
• Planning and Development Fees 
• Plumbing Fees 

Round 1 Budget 

This year, projects that are being considered through the budget process have been broken down into three categories;  

• Mandatory Projects (MUST do) – Projects that must proceed in the budget year due to imminent asset failure (with a defined consequence), regulatory compliance or safety requirements. 

• Strategic (Should do) – Directly relates to Board Strategic Focus Areas of water stewardship or solid waste solutions, a Board Directive, and/or is required because of policy. 

• Discretionary (Could do) – Projects that do not meet any of the criteria for Mandatory or Strategic classification. 

The Board’s focus has been on moving forward mandatory projects and those strategic projects which will maintain service levels with the potential to increase service levels in the future.  

A sample of these projects is below.  

Mandatory Projects 

• Upgrades to the Chapman Water Treatment Plant  

• Soames Creek Monitoring Compliance  

• Several projects focused on health and safety  

• Noxious weed removal at John Daley Park  

• Increased information technology data storage 

Several projects are part of the SCRD Board’s Strategic Plan and focus on two main service areas, Water Stewardship and Solid Waste Solutions. These include; 

• Design and permitting for a treatment plant for the Gray Creek water source 

• Construction of the Langdale Well Field  

• Feasibility study for raw water reservoir  

• Permitting associated with Siphons at Chapman and Edwards Lakes.   

• Software upgrades at water treatment plants, pump stations and reservoirs across all water systems  

• Reservoir maintenance in the Regional and South Pender water systems  

• Continued work and engagement on the Solid Waste Management Plan to explore future waste disposal options on the Sunshine Coast 

Several projects are required to maintain service levels and plan for future demand. These include; 

• Most SCRD services require a base budget lift to adjust to inflation and increased cost of goods and services  

• Budget for Transit Expansion priorities through 2025  

• Major project is required to repair trails and bridges at Cliff Gilker Park  

• Upgrades to Mason Road works yard to prepare for electric buses in the Region  

• Pressure release valves to optimize water flow for the Church Road Well Field  

• Implementation of the Firefighter Compensation Action Plan  

• Several vehicle replacements  

• Ongoing operations and maintenance at wastewater treatment facilities 

A full list of proposed projects in Round 1 can be found in the agenda for the meeting.  

Community Conversations 

The SCRD is changing how outreach is done in the community in relation to the 2025 budget. 

Over the past two years, the SCRD has hosted several information sessions for the budget. These have not been well attended and take a considerable number of resources to set up and promote. In keeping with the focus on best use of staff resources through this year’s budget, the SCRD will provide recorded presentations from key staff.  

These will be posted at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget and the community can ask questions on that page. To date, one question has been asked on the page.  

SCRD Directors will be providing outreach and presentations in their respective areas to ensure that the community can speak directly to those who are making decisions on this year’s budget. These community conversations will continue throughout the budget process, up until the adoption of the financial plan in mid-February. 

If you are a member of a community group or organization that would like a presentation from your elected representative, their contact information can be found at www.scrd.ca/electoral-areas-and-municipalities/. 

On January 9, 2025, the SCRD will host a local government roundtable to present the 2025 budget. This will occur prior to Round 2 budget, where final decisions are made on which projects will be forwarded for adoption in the financial plan. 

The public is welcome to attend this meeting, and more information will be prior to the meeting taking place.  

The best way to stay informed on Budget 2025 is at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget and at www.scrd.ca/news.