About the Comox Valley Sewer Service Liquid Waste Management Plan
The Comox Valley Sewer Service, which treats wastewater, or raw sewage, from homes and businesses in Courtenay, Comox and K’ómoks First Nation, is developing a long term plan to identify the improvements required and engage the public in the creation of a future vision for the sewer system in these communities. Eight residents have been appointed to a Public Advisory Committee to represent their communities in the development of the plan and play an essential role in considering community goals and public feedback throughout the process.
On March 10, 2020 the Comox Valley Sewage Commission approved a shortlist of three options for the conveyance system (pipes and pump stations) that move wastewater from homes and business to the sewage treatment plant. These options are being considered in order to relocate a vulnerable section of sewer pipe that runs along Balmoral Beach, below the Willemar Bluffs.
Planning and Consultation Update
Public Consultation to relaunch this Fall
Following a decision to reschedule spring’s public engagement due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, the CVRD plans to relaunch the consultation in the Fall, aiming for online and open house consultation in September. A recommended option, based on the public and technical experts’ feedback, is targeted for presentation to the sewage commission in November 2020. Responses to the online survey that was live for a few weeks in March have been saved and will be included as part of the final report.
Geotechnical Assessment Underway
To further assess the feasibility of tunneling options under consideration, the CVRD is undertaking geotechnical work including hydrogeological asessment in the Lazo/Butchers Road area, beginning June 15 for roughly two weeks. Please contact engineeringservices@comoxvalleyrd.ca with any questions about this work.
Stay Connected
Watch this page for details about how to participate in the consultations that will re-launch this Fall. In the meantime, you can visit our project portal to ask questions to the project team, or sign up for email notices.
Key Milestones
The CVRD has reached several important milestones in the liquid waste management planning process since the kick-off in early summer 2018:
- June 2018: Public Engagement #1 to help determine community values around managing sewer services in Comox and Courtenay.
- Oct. 2018: Public and Technical Advisory committee members are selected.
- Nov. 2018: Public Engagement Session #2 to share and receive feedback on sewer planning goals/objectives drafted by the advisory committees.
- Jan. 2019: Public Engagement Session #3 to share and receive feedback on the long list of options for conveyance, treatment and resource recovery.
- Feb. 2019: Sewage Commission adopts the goals and objectives for the long-term plan. See the staff report here.
- Mar. 2019: Sewage Commission accepts the long list of options for conveyance, treatment and resource recovery. See the staff report here.
- Apr. 2019 – Dec. 2019: CVRD undertakes extensive technical review and First Nations consultation.
- Mar. 2020: Sewage Commission approves the short list of options for the service’s conveyance system and the shortlist goes to the community for their input. See the staff report here.
- Apr. 2020: Engagement process is paused due to COVID-19 response. Public consultation is suspended, with plans to re-launch in the Fall. See the staff report here. See the staff report here.
Public Advisory Committee
Eight residents have been appointed to the Public Advisory Committee to represent their communities in the development of a Liquid Waste Management Plan for Courtenay and Comox:
- Sheila Carey (Courtenay)
- Kevin Niemi (Courtenay)
- Tamera Servizi (Courtenay)
- Ray Craig (Comox)
- Donald Jacquest (Comox)
- Kevan Van Velzen (Comox)
- Jenny Steel (Area B)
- Mary Lang (Area B)
These representatives from Comox, Courtenay and Area B, play an essential role in considering community goals and public opinion/feedback throughout the planning process. The Public Advisory Committee will be meeting regularly throughout the liquid waste management process. Click the menu below to view meeting minutes, presentations and related documents. For more information about the role of the committee, please see the Terms of Reference.
- November 13, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 1 - Agenda
- November 13, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 1 - Minutes
- November 23, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 2 - Agenda
- November 23, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 2 - Minutes
- December 11, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 3 - Agenda
- December 11, 2018 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 3 - Minutes
- January 24, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 4 - Agenda
- January 24, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 4 - Minutes
- February 8, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 5 - Agenda
- February 8, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 5 - Minutes
- March 22, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 6 - Agenda
- March 22, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 6 - Minutes
- September 30, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 7 - Agenda
- September 30, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 7 - Minutes
- December 5, 2019 LWMP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 8 - Agenda
- December 5, 2019 LMWP Joint TACPAC Meeting No. 8 - Minutes
The liquid waste management plan process is used by local governments in BC to develop strategies for managing sewer services. It includes the collection/review of existing information, development of options for future services, identification of a preferred option, completion of required studies and assessments and development of financial and implementation plans. The plan is ultimately submitted to the provincial government for review and consideration for approval.
Public engagement is key to the planning process. Public input will be collected online and through public events, which will be posted on this page. Residents of Courtenay and Comox are encouraged to weigh in with feedback, to help the CVRD develop a plan that works best for the community.
Please visit Connect CVRD to see a detailed outline of the Liquid Waste Management Planning Process.
The CVRD team is actively engaging with the public for feedback at key steps in the planning process using tools such as facilitated feedback sessions, open houses and online consultation. Watch this page for details on how you can contribute.
In October 2017, the Comox No. 2 Pump Station project, as it was proposed on Beech Street, was put on hold to allow for further review of alternative options. Key feedback from the community was that the Comox No. 2 conversation should be part of a broader planning process that looked at sewer management regionally. The plans for rerouting the at-risk pipe along Balmoral Beach (Willemar Bluffs) will now be a part of this liquid waste management planning process.
Visit background material on the Comox No. 2 Pump Station project.
Looking for more information?
Please click the link below to speak with a member of our project team or a public advisory committee representative.