About the Comox Valley Sewer Service Liquid Waste Management Plan
Ensuring our sewer system meets the needs and goals of the community is a critical part of the Comox Valley Regional District’s services. To plan for the future, the CVRD has elected to use a Liquid Waste Management Plan process to identify the improvements required for the sewer system in Courtenay and Comox 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.
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives for our long-term plan were adopted by the Sewage Commission on February 25- officially establishing the primary decision-making guide for selection of the optimum long-term conveyance, treatment and resource recovery solutions for the service. See the staff report here.
The Long List
Two information sessions were held in Courtenay and Comox at the end of January to present the public with the long list of options that the committees are reviewing. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions of our project team and let us know if we were missing any options that should be considered. A survey was also posted to this page from January 30 to February 5. Feedback was considered by Public Advisory Committee as it works alongside with our technical experts to prepare a final long list for the Sewage Commission. The Commission accepted the long list at its meeting on March 12. See the staff report here.
To view the long list options now under review by the Public and Technical Advisory Committees, please click the links below:
The Short List
The Committees will apply the goals and objectives criteria to the options in the long list and recommend a short list to the Sewage Commission for further technical study. Stay tuned for more information about how you can be involved in reviewing the short list for the Comox Valley Sewer System this spring.
Connect With Us Online
We provide opportunities for residents to engage with us online during each step of the management planning process. To learn more, or to register, please click on the button below.
Public Advisory Committee
In September 2018, eight residents were 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)
- Marie Holm (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.
Public Advisory Committee members will:
- Consider community goals as represented by major planning documents (Offical Community Plans, Sustainability Plans, etc).
- Consider public opinion and feedback on behalf of the Steering Committee.
- Provide feedback on documents provided by the CVRD Project Staff and/or the Consultant.
- Provide input and recommendations to the Steering Committee on matters pertaining to the planning process.
For more information about the role of the committee, please see the Terms of Reference
To get in touch with a Public Advisory Committee member in your area:
Public Advisory Committee Meetings
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.
- 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
Have Questions?
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.
As the CVRD staff get ready to start the management planning process, there's groundwork to be laid. This includes our first public consultation in June and recruiting for the public and technical advisory committees (details to come soon). Please visit Connect CVRD to see a detailed outline of the Liquid Waste Management Planning Process.
We want your help to plan the future sewer service in the CVRD. There are two key ways to be involved, and lots of tools to use:
- Public Advisory Committee: The advisory committee, which is open for nominations now, will meet formally to review materials, work through proposed plans and ultimately recommend a route forward. Read the Terms of Reference to learn more.
- Public Comment/Engagement: The CVRD team will be 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 for more info to come.
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?
To speak to a member of our project team or to sign up for an email list about this project, please click the link below.