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Presentation to the Coast Community Builders Association
1. Something Stinks in Sechelt
(and it’s not just our Sewage Treatment Plants!)
AN OPPORTUNITY
NOT TO BE MISSED!
Presentation to the
Coast Community Builders Association
John R. Henderson
February 15, 2011
2. What’s this all about?
• In a word –
SH**!
• How Sechelt handles its wastewater systems in
future is crucial:
• Vital for future property development
• Supports future economic development
• Done right, we’ll be a world leader in green technology
All told, SH**! is a GOOD NEWS STORY,
except . . .
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3. Something Stinks in Sechelt!
The District’s current plan:
• Means that odour and noise (& greenhouse gases)
coming from Ebbtide will continue for 10 more years
• Shows a disconcerting lack of curiosity
– There are numerous unexplored options and solutions
• Does not include an RFP process
– to find out what’s possible and to confirm the affordability
• Demonstrates their lack of experience in managing
major capital projects
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4. The largest project = largest
opportunity!
• Largest infrastructure project facing Sechelt
– Now and probably for many decades to come
• We need a plan and strategy, in place, now
• We need the talent to manage this
• We need a plan to pay for it
WE MUST “DO IT RIGHT!”
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5. Infrastructure Committee
• Create a working committee
– Assume responsibility for reviewing, assessing and overseeing
Sewer Infrastructure
– Assess all options for an integrated, sustainable and green
wastewater treatment facility
• Membership comprised of locally-based professionals
– Experienced in managing large, complex projects
• Sechelt has incredibly talented people
– It’s time to ask these people to take up the challenge – and
give them the tools to . . .
DO IT RIGHT!
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6. The District’s Approach
• Build a Biosolids Plant in a new location ($6M)
– Build your garage, without having any idea about the
type of house you want to build
– or where you plan to build it on your property!
• No plan in place for the treatment portion of the
facilities
– “in the future”
– “build it when we get additional grants”
– “We can’t afford to do more now, so why spend time
considering other options?”
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7. What the District has been saying . . .
- Part 1 -
1. “We have no time to pursue other options – our
deadline to use the Building Canada grants is 2013”
– IN FACT: The funding deadline can be extended to 2015, at
least, upon request
2. “The Building Canada grants ($3.2M) can only be used
for a biosolids facility”
– IN FACT: The project scope can be changed, upon request
3. “We cannot afford anything more than the Biosolids
Plant ($6M)”
– IN FACT: We have the financial resources to do much more,
without increasing taxes
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8. What the District has been saying . . .
- Part 2 -
4. “Upgrading the existing Ebbtide Plant will eliminate
odour & noise”
– IN FACT: The consultants have budgeted only $70K for
“Odour Control”.
– They also state that the processes will ensure there is no
release of “excessive malodorous compounds” but that
“nuisance [odour] conditions” may need to be dealt with.
– They do not say that odour will be eliminated.
5. “Ebbtide Plant will be ‘phased out soon’”
– IN FACT: Under Council’s plan, Ebbtide will operate for up to
10 more years.
6. “Adopting new technology is too risky”
– IN FACT: Any financially sound company that builds a facility
will provide an iron clad guarantee of performance.
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9. What the District has been saying . . .
- Part 3 -
7. “The lease on the existing Dusty Road site expires in
2031 and will not be renewed”
– IN FACT: We have talked with CAL and they have no plans
for this site, likely for several decades after 2031!
8. “This is just NIMBY’ism – you just don’t want a
treatment plant in your backyard”
– IN FACT: No one wants something that smells or makes
noise located in anybody’s backyard!
– If it is odourless, noiseless, green and affordable, no one will
have a concern about where it is located!
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10. What concerns us?
1. Council is not adequately informed
– Lacking accurate and complete information
2. We are not getting the best professional advice
3. Costs are spiralling upwards
Planning is the foundation for a successful project.
Poor planning leads to poor decisions leads to
poor results.
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12. Where’s the money?
1. Funds available per the District = $ 6.2M
2. Other District Sewer Funds = $ 3.0M
3. Additional monies available = $ 7.6M
TOTAL = $16.8M
What this means:
We could spend up to $16.8M
– WITH NO increase in taxes
– Using only reserves already allocated for sewage treatment
– Without touching the District’s other surpluses and reserves
(which are substantial)
– AND – we continue to have the opportunity to negotiate
preferential funding options with suppliers, seek additional
grants from senior governments, etc.
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13. Next Steps
• Create the Infrastructure Committee
– Design and issue the Requests for Proposals
– Manage the responses
– Make recommendations to Council (within 3 months)
• If we need to borrow money, hold a referendum
– Don’t be afraid! People will embrace this option:
• Borrowing at a very low, fixed interest rate
• Gets rid of odours at Ebbtide within one year, instead of 10!
• We have nothing to lose – if the referendum does not pass,
there are other options for funding the project.
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14. The benefits – in summary
• Building an integrated wastewater treatment
facility now:
– Provides certainty that property development will
continue to be welcomed in Sechelt
– Shows Sechelt as a progressive municipality
– Will generate economic development
– Fixes our costs
• “Staging” leaves us exposed to future increases
– Is affordable
– Improves the quality of life for everyone!
LET’S DO IT RIGHT!
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15. Sechelt has a wonderful opportunity
to build a complete wastewater treatment system
that is will be odourless, noiseless and green.
And we can do it now!
We encourage Council to have
the curiosity, courage and vision
to take advantage of
“An Opportunity Not To Be Missed!”
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