The District of Lantzville expects installing sewer lines to 307 property owners will be complete well ahead of a government-imposed March, 31, 2021 deadline. About half of the $8.6 million costs are covered by a Small Communities Fund grant. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

BIG PROJECT

Lantzville moves forward with sewer project despite price hike

Feb 10, 2020 | 12:55 PM

NANAIMO — Long-awaited but more expensive than advertised sewer lines will be installed for hundreds of Lantzville homes to replace failing septic systems.

The District of Lantzville recently announced phase three of the sewer transition initiative will go ahead, improving sewer service for 307 homes on smaller lots in the community. A petition, sparked by the high cost of construction, failed to gather enough signatures to halt the project.

District documents showed the total maximum cost per property if paid at once increased more than 40 per cent to $14,000. If property owners decided to pay the amount with a 30-year payment option, it will cost closer to $20,000.

Fred Spears, the District’s director of public works, said the rising cost of labour and material led to a higher price tag. He said the full scope of the project was also not known in 2016.

A portion of the increased costs includes a contingency fund to cover any unforeseen circumstances.

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“That’s what makes us really confident it’s not going to go any higher.” Spears said.

Impacted property owners don’t have the option to stick with septic systems to avoid the costs.

Some property owners made their displeasure known online and to NanaimoNewsNOW regarding higher than expected sewer costs, questioning cost overruns and further cost burdens put on households.

A Small Communities Fund between the province and federal government is covering half of the $8.6 million project costs. The money comes with a mandated project completion date of March 31, 2021.

Spears said he expected the contract to carry out work on phase three of the project will be finalized in March.

“We’re pretty confident the works will be carried out long before (the deadline). We’re looking at probably mid-January, 2021 for a completion date.”

The District previously hooked in sewer lines to hundreds of other smaller lots in Lantzville in two prior phases in recent years.

Spears doesn’t expect future sewer connections in Lantzville to be driven by the District, but rather the wishes of developers.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes