The boundaries, outlined in dark blue, of a proposed new municipality combining the rural areas of Errington and Coombs, which is hoped to be studied further on its viability. Light blue areas represent proposed Treaty lands, while areas in grey were briefly considered as a possible addition. (Neilson Strategies/Google Maps)

By Alex Rawnsley

BOUNDARY REDRAWING

New municipality being considered for Errington & Coombs residents

Jul 23, 2025 | 3:59 PM

NANAIMO — Incorporation of a new municipality in rural Oceanside is on the table, as local officials weigh the pros and cons of the move.

A new report, presented to RDN Board Directors on Tuesday, July 22, made the recommendation of proceeding with an incorporation study for homes and businesses in Errington and Coombs, roughly 4,400 people.

The report’s author, Allan Neilson from Neilson Strategies Inc., told Directors suggesting changes of this scope is a balancing act between ensuring an area is viable to succeed, but also not too big right away.

“We want to ensure that we have a robust enough tax base that is both large enough [and] diverse enough. We don’t want to set up a municipality with an assessment base that is almost entirely residential, we want a little bit of employment lands in there, a little bit of mixed assessment base.”

The full report is available here.

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Under the proposal, the new municipal boundary would run mostly along the southern edge of Hwy. 19 between the Hwy. 4A exit in Parksville and the Hwy. 4 exit to Qualicum Beach.

It would also extend south to include homes along the Englishman River.

Neilson said they chose areas carefully to stay under a population base of 5,000 people, which is when additional costs are incurred, mainly through policing.

“Most municipalities do that through the RCMP, but the responsibility rests with the municipality. The cost also rests with the municipality, or a large portion of it. If we are getting close to 5,000, or for over 5,000, then we’re going to be facing some cost application.”

Road maintenance was also another big line item new municipalities face, with this proposed community having a solid balance between population and road network.

Community engagement over recent years showed a solid amount of support for studying incorporation, although in what manner was still subject to debate.

Some residents preferred including nearby Whiskey Creek in a new town, effectively stretching the new borders along Hwy. 4.

“We have a desire on the part of some residents…to go forward with this boundary assessment, but we also have those same people who want to potentially have a municipality that’s more rural in character. For those folks, it’s less about services, perhaps, and more about governance: who gets to make decisions over local matters.”

Questions were raised about around 40 homes on Allsbrook Rd., to the east of the proposed boundary, as well as remaining residents of the current RDN Area F, should new boundaries be established.

Allsbrook Rd. residents could apply to join the municipality should they desire in the future, while Neilson said remaining Area F residents would likely see some ripple effects.

“When we look at incorporations that do occur, the remaining areas that are unincorporated tend to see boundary shifts. We tend to see service changes that are sometimes imposed by the provincial government to mitigate impacts.”

Directors voted unanimously to forward Neilson’s report to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs for funding of an incorporation study.

The hope is funding will be received and a study completed in time for a referendum question on incorporation to be included with the municipal election in October 2026.

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