A fellow landowner forwarded this info from Area A Director Daniel Arbour. The agreement reported in The Record was between the sewage commission and KFN only. https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/comox-valley-regional-district-kmoks-first-nation-ratify-sewage-solution/
Notice what’s missing? No mention of Union Bay Estates aka Kensington Island Properties.
The K’ómoks First Nation and the Comox Valley Regional District Sewage Commission have ratified a Community Benefits Agreement that commits both parties to collaborate on a regional solution for sewer. The agreement will provide upgrades for Comox and Courtenay sewer infrastructure, while supporting the growth and economic development plans of the K’ómoks community.
“This agreement between the CVRD and KFN is a shining example of the leadership here in the Comox Valley and unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. By working together in the spirit of reconciliation we can set the examples for other municipalities and Indigenous communities nationwide to ensure that we all move forward together,” said Chief Nicole Rempel. “In working toward installation of sewage services to the south, we can address many concerns regarding failing septic systems, as well as anticipate and prepare for future developments down the road, and most importantly to protect the streams, beaches and Baynes Sound area from further failing septic systems.”
The partnership recognizes that the existing sewer line through Indian Reserve was expropriated without adequate consultation, and provides compensation for past and future impacts of sewer infrastructure within the reserve. The commission will work with KFN to protect archeologically sensitive areas during construction in an effort to preserve cultural heritage sites, ancestral burial places and artifacts.
“For the City of Courtenay, building on our good relations with K’ómoks First Nation and practising reconciliation is one of our strategic priorities, and we are always looking for opportunities that will bring us towards this goal,” Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells said. “This agreement is a major and concrete step forward, and we are grateful to all parties for this collaboration.”
The Comox Valley Sewer Service provides treatment to residents of Comox and Courtenay, as well as CFB Comox. In early 2020, the commission made the historical decision to accept wastewater from communities south of the Courtenay boundary, which includes KFN development lands. This unprecedented decision depends on strong leadership from Comox and Courtenay councils to work in partnership with KFN, ensuring a regional approach to sewer services that will protect local beaches, waters and B.C.’s largest shellfish industry in Baynes Sound.
“This agreement is another example that reflects the important and longstanding partnership we have with our K’ómoks First Nation neighbours,” said Comox Mayor Russ Arnott. “It is crucial to collaborate with our neighboring communities and areas to address the fragile sewage line at Willemar Bluffs to ensure the long-term well-being of our waters and the safe, efficient delivery of wastewater in the region.”
While infrastructure does not exist to move wastewater from south of Courtenay, this agreement commits the CVRD to champion and seek grant funding, as well as other project partners to extend sewer infrastructure south. As partners in this agreement, the KFN will support all permits and approvals required for upcoming conveyance upgrades (pipes and pump stations) as part of the Liquid Waste Management Planning Process that is underway.
KFN and the CVRD plan to share this agreement with Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Josie Osborne, BC Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Murray Rankin, BC Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, as a testament to what is possible when local governments and First Nations work together to seek solutions to region-wide issues.
I posted about the building permits July 2, 2020. https://allthingsunionbay.com/2020/07/03/kensington-island-properties-aka-union-bay-estates-building-permit-for-discovery-centre/ What’s new?
At the Union Bay Improvement District Strategic Planning Session today, Trustee Haraldson stated he had an announcement and felt it had to be made. First, why is he blindsiding the Board? Second, what’s the big deal about UBE being “awarded” building permits that happened 6 months ago?
Carol Molstad asks Ted if that means they (UBE) have approval for their sewer system and Ted replies “on the Discovery Centre, that’s been given approval” and goes on to say another thing in the works is a sewage system coming down to Royston and Union Bay.
As of yesterday, Jan. 25, 2021, Union Bay Estates aka Kensington Island Properties sewage application was still in the “review and decision phase” according to the email I received from BC Ministry of Environment.
This is an excerpt of Haraldson making the announcement. Big shot.
This is the entire Strategic Planning Session today. Lots of information discussed at this meeting as Gary Nason, Janice Swanson, Chair Ian Munro, Trustee Susanna Kaljur, Trustee Eve Gaudreau, Trustee Ted Haraldson, Water Supt. Dan McGill, Fire Chief Ian Ham and landowner Carol Molstad who is on the Conversion Advisory Committee were all present and contributed.
Why is KIP proceeding with this application knowing it does not comply with the MDA? Because that’s what this developer does – never happy with any agreement, always wanting to change the conditions previously agreed to. That’s why nothing ever materialized all these years except constant whining about how it was everyone else preventing the development from proceeding.
In the FOI response there were emails between the CVRD and the Ministry regarding KIP’s sewage application.
Received the following response to my email question if the CVRD made it clear to Melanie Mamoser that KIP’s application did not comply with the MDA.
More from the FOI response to Kensington Island Properties aka Union Bay Estates application to dump 1875 cubic meters of treated sewage into Washer/Hart Creek daily.
Link to Union Bay Estates Sanitary Master Plan Review Draft Sept. 2019: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19IOd-g4cZtE5l2XrVPCDZoSkc6hLcXDq/view?usp=sharing
Kip’s plans if a regional sewer plan is not in place for Phase 2. Again, no mention of Union Bay or Royston.
It’s no wonder the CVRD is concerned. After all, they will own the system KIP installs after 2 years. Do they want to own a system dumping into Washer/Hart Creek indefinitely?
Another example of KIP trying to force whatever works for KIP on everyone else. Don’t forget McMahon believes “Because we’re dealing with government timelines don’t matter.” With that attitude it’s no wonder there has been so little activity over the last 15 years. The timeline will be whatever KIP determines.
Because we’re dealing with government timelines don’t matter.
The pdf’s I’m posting links to are some of the pages I extracted from over 1200 pages in the KIP sewage application FOI response received by a fellow landowner who is allowing me to post this information. Thank you!
Emphasis added by me.
Excerpt: Operations plan Registration Tracking dated Oct. 14, 2019 submitted by KIP: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QlqLIMwqaAhDNPBuLkljXvu4gHIt9KT/view?usp=sharing
The current proposed sewage plan for the development does not comply with the MDA.
This info was provided by a landowner who submitted an FOI on Kip’s application to dump 1875 cubic meters treated sewage into Washer/Hart Creek daily.
So KIP obviously has no plans to contribute to a south sewer project if they’re only building for Phase 1. Just looking after their own development. Waiting for the landowners to pony up for a system KIP will tie into when needed.
Promises, promises.
Red emphasis added by me.
