Currently, every North Vancouver taxpayer is now facing an unprecedented $21,000 tax bill due to cost overruns on the new wastewater treatment plant.
Councillor Pope is advocating for a public inquiry to investigate how this Metro Vancouver project spiraled to six times over budget and to ensure this kind of mismanagement doesn’t happen again.
If you’re concerned about the handling of this project and support the call for a public inquiry, we encourage you to make your voice heard. Please send your thoughts by emailing: council@dnv.org
We have stated our concerns at the September 23rd Council Meeting.
The letter as follows:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
September 23, 2024
Good Evening Mayor and Council
Lynn Valley Community Association asks that Council immediately requests a public inquiry into the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant fiasco.
We had originally intended to speak in support of Councillor Pope’s motion requesting a public inquiry but we are frustrated to learn that this motion has been deferred until November 4th.
Meanwhile, seven local city councillors representing five different cities have penned an open letter calling on B.C.’s auditor general to conduct an independent review of the facility’s finances. These Councillors are actively working to request transparency and accountability from Metro Vancouver, SPECIFICALLY regarding the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project. Why then, is the District of North Vancouver silent?
Metro Vancouver has appointed John J.L. Hunter, a former judge, who will perform an “independent audit”. Such an audit is typically NOT a public document, and Metro Vancouver is NOT required to make it public.
Every North Shore taxpayer is facing a massive and unprecedented $21,000 tax bill to pay for this boondoggle and Metro Vancouver’s incompetence. North Shore taxpayers did not vote for this project, the entire Metro Vancouver board did. Why then are North Shore taxpayers alone responsible for the cost over runs? Why are all Metro Vancouver members not sharing the cost of this project?
The project was to have been completed in 2020 at a cost of $500 million; it is now stalled and is more than 6 times over budget.
Still we have no idea how or when this project will be completed.
Questions that need to be answered by a full public inquiry include:
- Why did Metro Vancouver award a full “Design and Build” contract to Acciona instead of doing a proper design project first before issuing a completely separate contract to build the facility?
- Why was Metro Vancouver not aware of all the site issues before the design and build contract was awarded?
- Why wasn’t Metro Vancouver monitoring Acciona’s progress before things got so far out of Metro Vancouver’s control?
- Is the current “estimate” of $3.8 billion to complete this project, including out of court settlements, accurate? Or will Metro Vancouver reveal more cost overruns and court settlements?
Clearly, Metro Vancouver’s Board and staff have mismanaged this project, leaving North Shore taxpayers on the financial hook, with no accountability for those responsible for the mismanagement.
This is not acceptable. Only a full public inquiry is acceptable to determine how and why this project was so badly mismanaged and to ensure such incompetence is not repeated.
A public inquiry needs to happen now. North Shore taxpayers need Council to act now.
The other municipalities and organizations that constitute Metro Vancouver need to know how badly Metro Vancouver has failed. They too should demand a public inquiry into this fiasco. Their municipality could be next.
We request Council petition for a public inquiry IMMEDIATELY.
Gillian Konst
President, Lynn Valley Community Association
