Nanaimo council wants more water & energy info before future data centre proposals

Eastmure said the issue has drawn a lot of public attention, with an increased desire from residents to understand where their water is coming from and how it is used.

Despite a fairly robust supply in Nanaimo, droughts and challenges in surrounding communities are impacting local water levels, with stage three restrictions enacted this year earlier than ever before.

“There are a lot of unknowns with these projects, and there’s no reason that the degree of water usage should be one of those things, particularly at the rezoning stage,” Eastmure said. “The rezoning stage is the most appropriate place and time to receive this information, and that also gives Council the ability to, at our discretion, put a covenant on the amount of water use.”

The proposed East Wellington Rd. installation, which went through rezoning in late 2022, didn’t have water limits formally set until March 2026, when an average of 61,000 litres of water per day was agreed upon.

Volumes are akin to a mid-sized apartment complex, BC Ferries’ Departure Bay terminal, or a car wash business, according to the City.

Support for Eastmure’s intent was effectively unanimous around the Council table, but the mechanism to get there was debated for nearly 30 minutes.

Eastmure lobbied for an OCP amendment after advice from City Chief Administrative Officer Dale Lindsay, however others on Council felt different bylaw routes were more appropriate.

Deputy CAO Lisa Bhopalsingh, stepping in for Lindsay at the meeting, said the OCP is designed to provide broad direction regarding long-term planning to inform future decision-making.

“The OCP is setting your direction, and so it is the place where, if you wanted to see this achieved, it would make it clear to the community, it would make it clear to staff how they then implement things through other mechanisms.”

Coun. Ian Thorpe questioned the need for additional steps at the local level, given the amount of regulation provincially.

He said future applications will likely have the information the East Wellington proposal did not.

“Staff will have information on water usage that we will know about, and the concern that we’re drawing down our aquifer that I have heard from some sources is totally erroneous. I’m confident that should we get future applications, Council will be informed of all of these concerns, and we can deal with them then.”

Coun. Tyler Brown was the lone vote against Eastmure’s request, citing concerns over process, not the intent, while coun. Erin Hemmens was absent for the meeting.

Staff will return to Council at a future meeting with the requested changes for Council to consider, although it’s unclear whether the changes will be ready before or after a new Council is sworn in following October’s municipal election.

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by Alex Rawnsley

Nanaimo council wants more water & energy info before future data centre proposals

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