Skip to content

Lantzville council amends Nanaimo water agreement

NANAIMO – New terms sent to City of Nanaimo for review and response.
99970nanaimoLantzville_District_Hall_WEB
District of Lantzville Town Hall.

The District of Lantzville approved a number of amendments to its water agreement with the City of Nanaimo during a council meeting Monday.

The amendments include changing the wording to allow all areas of Lantzville to connect to a water supply provided by Nanaimo.

Under the existing water agreement, the connection was specific to new developments and upper Lantzville and didn’t include existing developments in other areas of the district which might need municipal water.

An additional change was made in the agreement to replace the phrase “water system capital costs” to “water service surcharge,” which would eliminate potential concern about direct capital contribution or liabilities that Lantzville might have had to assume.

Another amendment to the deal includes the ability for the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation to potentially hook up to Lantzville’s water system, if it were to enter into an agreement with the City of Nanaimo.

 

Lantzville’s previous council and mayor originally signed off on a $1.3-million water-supply agreement with Nanaimo in 2014.

According to a report issued to council by District of Lantzville staff, the current water agreement was restrictive for Lantzville and lacked clarity as to when contributions to Nanaimo’s water infrastructure would force or cause Lantzville to consult with the public.

The report also states that the amendments would not result in any financial changes in the agreement.

It also suggested that should the City of Nanaimo accept the changes, the District of Lantzville could “avoid costs which would trigger a referendum.”

Coun. Denise Haime said she’s pleased with the amendments to the agreement.

“I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from the residents .... that this water agreement is inclusive to all of Lantzville,” she said.

City of Nanaimo councillors will now need to review and vote on Lantzville’s amendments.