The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) will begin replacing approximately 900 metres of water main along Reed Road starting September 8, 2026.

The work will take place between the Henry Road intersection and the Reed Road reservoir site at 1044 Reed Road. It is expected to take approximately ten weeks to complete.

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Travel to Langdale Terminal
The construction will affect people who use Reed Road to travel to the Langdale Ferry Terminal.

During construction, travellers are encouraged to use Highway 101 instead of Reed Road to avoid delays. Electronic message signs have been placed along the highway to alert travellers to the upcoming work and potential traffic disruptions.

Motorists travelling through the construction area should expect single-lane, alternating traffic and delays at times. Traffic control personnel will be on site to help safely move vehicles through the work zone.

What’s being done?
The existing water main will be replaced with new ductile iron pipe. The upgrade will improve the reliability and efficiency of the water system and help reduce the need for future watermain repairs in the area.

Construction activities will include:

Clearing and removing some shrubs where necessary

• Excavating the road
• Installing and testing the new watermain
• Restoring and repaving the road

A Qualified Environmental Professional has prepared an environmental management plan for the project. Major tree removal is not expected. Trees located near the work area will be protected with fencing.

Construction Hours
Regular construction hours will be:

• Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, if required: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• No construction on Sundays or statutory holidays

Construction schedules may occasionally change due to site conditions or other factors.

Temporary Water Shut-offs
Letters have been delivered to residents in the construction area. Several temporary water shut-offs will be required to connect the new water main to the existing system. Residents affected by a planned water shut-off will receive a hand-delivered notice at least 48 hours in advance. Planned water disruptions will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Water service and property access will be restored no later than 5:00 p.m. the same day.

The SCRD and its contractor, NB Contracting Ltd., will make every effort to minimize disruptions and complete the work as quickly and safely as possible.

Residents, commuters and other road users are asked to plan ahead, follow traffic-control directions and allow extra time when travelling through the area. The SCRD appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation while this important water system upgrade is completed.

Due to lower-than-normal aquifer levels, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is providing supplemental water supply to the Eastbourne Water System on Keats Island.

Starting today, water will be transported to Keats Island by barge and distributed to residents through the existing system.

To coordinate this work, the SCRD has activated a Level 1 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Having an EOC in place allows the SCRD to draw on additional resources should they be needed.

Background
SCRD staff have been closely monitoring the aquifer that supplies the 173 water service connections on the Eastbourne Water System. Aquifer levels are currently lower than normal for this time of year.

The amount of water required for the Eastbourne community usually drops after the Labour Day long weekend. Ahead of this, the SCRD is taking proactive measures to ensure adequate water supply is available through late August and into September.

Meetings and Upcoming Projects
Earlier this month, SCRD General Manager of Infrastructure Services Remko Rosenboom met with the Eastbourne community to provide an update on the Eastbourne Water System and upcoming projects.

Engineering and design work is underway to advance plans for two test wells that could provide additional water supply and reduce pressure on the existing system. Further information, including project timelines, will be available once the required contracted services have been secured through the SCRD’s public procurement process.

Coming Weeks
Residents connected to the Eastbourne Water System will not experience a change in their regular water service as a result of this supplemental supply.

The SCRD is drawing treated water from the Regional Water System, of which the Eastbourne Water System is a participant, transporting it to Keats Island and transferring into the Eastbourne system at the wellfield location. The supplemental water supply will then be treated and distributed through the existing systems in accordance with Vancouver Coastal Health requirements.

The transportation of supplemental water is being coordinated through a contractor that has provided operational services for the Eastbourne Water System on behalf of the SCRD for several years.

Residents with questions about the supplemental water supply or the Eastbourne Water System are asked to contact the SCRD at infrastructure@scrd.ca

Further updates will be provided as needed.

This morning, elected officials and senior managers from local governments across the Sunshine Coast met with the Provincial Government’s Community Transition Services team to discuss the closure of the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mill. 

Community Transition Services supports communities through significant economic changes, including the closure or reduction of operations at major employers. Provincial staff will work over the coming weeks and months to help identify emerging needs, challenges, and available supports. Further information about the program can be found here. 

A working group of elected representatives is now being established, with an initial meeting with Community Transition Services expected in late August or the first week of September. 

The immediate priority is supporting affected workers. It is anticipated that Community Transition Services will bring together staff and resources from Service BC and WorkBC to help identify available supports, employment services, retraining, and other opportunities for those impacted by the closure. 

Local elected officials understand that our community is still processing yesterday’s announcement and that many people have questions and concerns about what comes next. We are committed to working together and ensuring that the needs of affected workers, families, contractors, businesses, and the broader community remain at the forefront. 

Further updates on the work underway with Community Transition Services will be provided in early September, following upcoming meetings, and as more information becomes available. 

Media Enquiries:
Aidan Buckley,
Manager, Communications and Engagement,
Sunshine Coast Regional District
604-885-8052
aidan.buckley@scrd.ca 

More than 9,000 mock water bills are now being mailed to residents with water meters in the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s (SCRD) Regional Water Service Area. This includes residents on the Langdale, Chapman, Eastbourne, Egmont and Cove Cay water systems.

These mock bills are designed to help residents understand their water use and see what future water charges may look like before actual bills are issued in 2027. No payment is required for this mock bill.

Not sure which water system serves your property? Enter your address on this map to find out.

What’s on your mock bill?

Your mock bill includes information on the reverse side to help you understand how volumetric water billing works, including:

• An explanation of the charges shown on the bill.
• Information about your water consumption.
• Notifications about potential issues with your service, such as a water leak.
• Information to help you understand what future volumetric water bills may look like.

Courtesy leak notifications

In July, the SCRD mailed letters to more than 600 residents notifying them of a potential water leak at their property.

The information on your mock bill is based on water-use data from April, May and June. As a result, your mock bill may include a leak notification even if you have already addressed the issue.

If you received a previous leak notification from the SCRD and have since followed the recommended steps and fixed the leak, you can disregard the leak message on your mock bill.

Have questions?

The SCRD recognizes that residents may have questions about their mock bill and the transition to volumetric water billing. There are several ways to learn more and connect with staff:

Learn more online
Visit letstalk.scrd.ca/water-billing to learn more about the volumetric billing project, find resources and ask questions at any time.

Contact SCRD staff
Email utilitybilling@scrd.ca or call 604-885-6885 to speak with staff.

With more than 9,000 mock bills being issued, the SCRD expects a significant increase in enquiries. Staff will respond as quickly as possible based on the volume of enquiries received.

Understand your mock bill
Visit your mock bill explained for a step-by-step resource explaining the information included on your mock bill.

Talk to us in person
SCRD staff will be at the Sechelt Farmers Market on Saturday, August 29, and Saturday, September 26, to answer questions and provide information about the transition to volumetric water billing.

What’s next?

The mock bills are an important step in preparing residents for the transition to volumetric water billing.

Residents are encouraged to review their mock bill, learn more about how volumetric billing works and contact SCRD staff with any questions.

On behalf of Sunshine Coast Regional District staff and our Board, I want to express our support to the workers and their families who are affected by today’s announcement.

The mill at Port Mellon has been an integral part of our community for generations providing good jobs, supporting our families and businesses, and serving as a significant economic driver for the Sunshine Coast.

The employees and contractors are our neighbours, friends and community members, and we recognize that this closure will have a profound impact not only on them and their families, but on our entire community.

Our Board will work closely with our local government partners, shíshálh Nation, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, the Province and the Federal Government to better understand the full implications of this closure for our region.

We acknowledge that this is a rapidly evolving situation, but we will also advocate for the supports and resources needed by those most directly affected and work together to help our community navigate this difficult time.

SCRD Board Chair, Alton Toth

Following the scheduled annual maintenance shutdown, the Pender Harbour Aquatic & Fitness Centre pool is on track to reopen in September, supported by the successful recruitment of key aquatic staff and ongoing hiring efforts to strengthen the team.

As new staff are welcomed and training continues, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is prioritizing the development of a strong, skilled aquatic workforce to support safe, high-quality programming. As a result, registration for fall swim lessons will be postponed until the new team members are fully trained and in place.

This additional training period will help ensure staff have the skills and experience to deliver swim lessons when they resume.

Building aquatic staff capacity now will help create a stronger and more sustainable swim lesson program for Pender Harbour in the future.

The SCRD recognizes that there has been disruption to scheduled activities and programming at the Pender Harbour Pool in recent months. Staff have been working behind the scenes to strengthen aquatic recruitment, training and staffing capacity, including:

• Actively recruiting lifeguards.
• Offering aquatic leadership training to support recruitment and staffing needs.
• Delivering two National Lifeguard Service courses since April, with 17 participants registered.
• Offering a Swim Instructor course with seven participants registered.
• Delivering two Swim Instructor recertification courses since March, with 17 participants registered.
• Advancing the hiring process for an Aquatic Services Coordinator for the Pender Harbour Aquatic & Fitness Centre, a position that will increase capacity for lifeguarding and swim lesson instruction.

Swim Lessons Continue in Sechelt and Gibsons

Swim lessons will continue to be offered this fall at the Sechelt Aquatic Centre and Gibsons & Area Community Centre Pool.

Registration for all SCRD fall recreation programs, including swim lessons at the Sechelt and Gibsons pools, opens Wednesday, August 19 at 7 a.m.

Residents can preview fall programs and find registration information at www.scrd.ca/recreation-registration.

The SCRD appreciates the community’s patience and understanding as work continues to strengthen aquatic staffing at the Pender Harbour Pool.