Kensington Island Properties vice-president Brian McMahon said an infrastructure funding announcement marks “a great day” for Royston, Union Bay, Cumberland and the south regional wastewater treatment plant.
And a further step forward for the company’s proposal to build houses, a golf course, a marina walkway, and a series of parks and trails in Union Bay.
“It all is progress,” said McMahon, who was in attendance Wednesday when MP John Duncan announced $17 million in federal funding.
The project will be completed in stages, the first of which will cost $42 million. A collection system will be constructed for the core areas of Royston and Union Bay, and a conveyance system will bring Cumberland’s wastewater to a new treatment plant. These measures will address failing septic systems and help protect waterways surrounding Baynes Sound.
“The Regional Growth Strategy focused on moving south, and this is where the hub of it’s going to be,” McMahon added.
“It’s future growth in Cumberland, future growth in this area. This is the place where it has to happen.”
It’s been about 13 years since KIP purchased 1,000-plus acres in Union Bay. September will mark Year 14.
Last year, the CVRD and Union Bay Improvement District signed an agreement that will enable KIP to proceed with constructing a water filtration system. But the company still needs to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Environment for its own wastewater treatment plant.
“As part of the master development agreement with the regional district, we have to do our sewer system,” McMahon said. “This is something that will happen I would think down the road a little bit. We’re going to get going with ours this year.”
He expects KIP is within a few months of obtaining ministry approval.
“We need the treated effluent to irrigate our golf course. Ours will be in place I would think a few years before this one.”
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
