Nanoose Bay residents have defeated a proposal to borrow $1.2 million to improve one reservoir and help pay for another to serve anticipated development.
The Nanaimo Regional District had gone to area residents with an alternative approval process, but it failed.
While residents favoured upgrading the existing reservoir, they had reservations about funding another reservoir for potential homes that may not be built for many years, project opponent Paula Chase told the regional district’s board on Nov. 12.
The borrowing proposal affected only electors in the Nanoose Bay Water Service Area, part of Electoral Area E. For the plan to fail, at least 10 per cent of the 5,381 electors had to submit a form in opposition by mid-September.
Opponents submitted 1,226 eligible forms, meaning 22.8 per cent were against the plan.
The district’s board heard from senior staff that the cost of improving the existing Arbutus reservoir could be covered in the upcoming annual budget.
