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B.C. tourism mecca finally poised to stop pumping raw sewage into the ocean

Shovels expected to hit the ground this month on Tofinosa国际传媒檚 much-delayed $78M sewage treatment facility
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Shovels are finally ready to hit the ground on Tofinosa国际传媒檚 long awaited wastewater treatment plant.

The district has finalized a construction agreement with NAC Construction and construction is expected to begin this month, according to Tofino mayor Dan Law.

sa国际传媒淭his is a moment that we can all celebrate. Itsa国际传媒檚 been a long time coming and to actually get started and see the construction go ahead and the project move forward is a fantastic accomplishment,sa国际传媒 Law told the Westerly News. sa国际传媒淏esides the federal mandate and the Clean Water Act, not pumping raw sewage into Clayoquot Sound has been a priority for the community and the past couple councilssa国际传媒tsa国际传媒檚 just the right thing to do.sa国际传媒

He added district staff, NAC, engineering consultants WSP and the provincial and federal governments sa国际传媒渨orked really well togethersa国际传媒 to bring the projectsa国际传媒檚 launch to fruition.

The facility, which carries an expected cost of $78 million including a 10 per cent contingency, has been something of a white whale in Tofino, which is

The district was given a federal mandate to treat its sewage by Jan. 1 2021, but whizzed past that deadline as it attempted to overcome the significant tax burden it would bring to the community of about 2,220.

The provincial and federal governments initially dished out $40 million in grants to help Tofino meet its mandate, but frustrations mounted in 2020 when the district as construction bids came in at around an $84 million average.

Tofino had originally committed to put $14 million of taxpayer funds towards the project, but upped that figure to $16 million before standing pat and asking the provincial and federal governments for more financial help.

sa国际传媒淲e really capped it at that and we looked to both the provincial and federal governments to help us accomplish the rest and the rest will be coming from grants and contributions,sa国际传媒 Law said.

The on using annual Municipal and Regional District Tax dollars to fund the facility before agreeing to a compromise earlier this year with thatsa国际传媒檚 projected to bring about $400,000 to Tofino each year to put towards paying off the $16 million loan.

The facility is expected to be operational in 2024.

sa国际传媒淭his is just a wonderful thing. Itsa国际传媒檚 certainly taken a long time, but here we are,sa国际传媒 Law said.



andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

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Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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