Briefly: More calls for public inquiry into Metro Vancouver’s $4 billion boondoggle, which is supposed to be finished by 2030.
Bob Mackin
Could it take longer than 2030 for the entire North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project to be completed?
Metro Vancouver’s August progress report to the federal government said contractor AECOM’s design was 95% finished, and expected to be complete in November. But the construction, now under PCL, was stalled at 32%.
(Metro Vancouver/FOI)
“Metro Vancouver will continue with the amended early works construction scope until a fully executed construction contract is in place to complete the project,” said the bi-annual report to the federal government, obtained by theBreaker.news under freedom of information. “At that time, Metro Vancouver will be able to provide an updated cost and schedule for the project.”
In March, Metro Vancouver revealed that it would cost $3.86 billion to deliver by 2030. The price tag for the new sewage plant was supposed to be just $700 million for 2020.
Although construction and commissioning are expected to be complete in 2030, the report said that “minor connecting conveyance works are scheduled for subsequent years” and decommissioning and remediation of the 1961-opened Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant site will follow.
The month before Metro Vancouver went public with the overrun and delay, it told the federal government in the February update that the revised July 2026 completion target was under review.
July’s progress report to the B.C. government said that $537 million had been spent so far. More than half of that, $311.17 million, was listed under design-build costs. Other major costs included $69.3 million for conveyance design builder and $65.3 million for the designer.
The federal government agreed in 2016 to fund $212.3 million of the original $700 million budget. The province joined in with $193 million in 2017. Construction officially started Jan. 11, 2019.
In 2021, after pandemic delays, disputes with design-build contractor Acciona and an upgrade to tertiary treatment, Metro Vancouver hiked the budget to $1.058 billion and delayed completion to 2024.
Neither Ottawa nor Victoria have come to the table with additional funding. For now, the overruns are on the shoulders of Metro Vancouver ratepayers who will see an average 25.3% increase to their utility bills next year, to $875.
Indigestion
The progress report to the province said that one of the major works around the site is removal of excess rebar caused by Acciona
“PCL and AECOM have been collaborating to identify rebar congestion that has led to poor concrete consolidation by the previous contractor, and removing select rebar in line with AECOM’s updated 90% design drawings or issued for construction drawings where available. Rebar congestion has been minimized in the solids dewatering building, primary sedimentation tanks, activated sludge tanks, and secondary clarifier areas.”
Few workers can be seen on-site, however preparations were made for hundreds to someday arrive.
(Metro Vancouver/FOI)
The report said that the craft lunch room construction was nearing completion to accommodate 650 workers including, offices, furniture, ventilation and lighting. Modifications were underway to accommodate 220 vehicles in a parking lot.
The two tallest structures are officially known as Building 71A and Building 71B, the north and south digesters, respectively.
PCL discovered poor concrete consolidation on the north digester’s roof. Concrete demolition was completed by August and installation of falsework — or shoring — commenced. Scaffolding had been completed on the south digester.
Throughout summer, Premier David Eby resisted calls from a group of municipal councillors and the North Shore Neighbourhoods Alliance to forward the matter to the Inspector of Municipalities for a public inquiry.
In September, the week before the provincial election period began, Metro Vancouver retained retired appeal court judge John Hunter to advise the board on how to conduct an independent audit without compromising the lawsuit against Acciona.
The Spanish company sued for $250 million after its 2022 firing. Metro Vancouver countersued for $500 million.
A North Vancouver District councillor calls the process under Hunter inadequate, ineffective and limited in scope. NDP-aligned Catherine Pope is tabling a motion at the Nov. 4 council meeting that seeks support for an independent public inquiry.
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