The RDN is advancing the Notch Hill Reservoir #3 project in…

The RDN is advancing the Notch Hill Reservoir #3 project in Nanoose Bay with a budget amendment that moves $50,000 from the 2027 capital reserve into the 2026 budget for pre-construction works. The motion carried unanimously, though it is an internal reallocation, not a development approval. The broader reservoir project has faced public resistance. The RDN previously sought to borrow $1.2 million through an alternative approval process in 2024, but that AAP failed after receiving sufficient opposition from residents of the Nanoose Bay Peninsula Water Service Area (CHEK News, https://cheknews.ca/regional-district-of-nanaimo-aap-in-nanoose-bay-fails-1223785/). The proposed works include renewal of the existing Arbutus Reservoir and construction of one additional reservoir on Notch Hill to accommodate growth and improve fire protection and drinking water infrastructure. The $50,000 allocation suggests the RDN is pressing ahead with design and cost estimation despite the failed AAP, likely as a precursor to seeking funding through a different mechanism, possibly revised borrowing or capital budget reprioritization. No timeline for full construction is available, and the project's scope and budget remain contingent on securing the balance of financing.

Council approval will be sought on May 7, 2026, for an undisclosed address in the Regional District of Nanaimo, BC. The applicant has applied for development permission. The outcome of the meeting is not yet available.