Cost history
The total estimated cost to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program is $3.86 billion. This cost estimate includes construction of the new treatment plant and related conveyance infrastructure, and preliminary design work for decommissioning the existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant. To develop the updated cost estimate, Metro Vancouver considered three separate cost estimates that took into account market conditions, inflation, interest rates, and hiring a new contractor. The cost estimate includes costs incurred to date, the costs to complete construction, as well as items such as owner’s costs, equipment purchases, insurance, permitting, engineering services, escalation, and a risk reserve.
The increased cost is attributable to multiple factors, including significant rework required to address design and construction deficiencies, sustained inflation on construction and labour costs, volatile market conditions, and competition for skilled labour and materials from other major infrastructure projects across the province.
Key financial milestones are outlined below. Additional details are available on the
Key Events and Decisions page.
- November 2013: Initial program cost estimate - $700 million (2018 dollars)
- March 2017: Federal and provincial funding towards construction - $405.3 million
- April 2017: Awarded design-build-finance contract to Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP (Acciona) and updated program budget - $780 million
- February 2021: Revised program cost estimate following negotiations with Acciona and addition of tertiary filtration - $1.058 billion
- March 2024: Following a comprehensive program review by a Metro Vancouver Board task force, revised program cost estimate announced - $3.86 billion
- May 2024: GVS&DD Board determined cost allocation and phasing, with the North Shore Sewerage Area responsible for 37% of the program’s increased costs, and the rest of the region responsible for 63%
- October 2024: A key contract within the approved program cost estimate is executed with PCL to complete construction of the treatment plant - $1.95 billion
Independent program review
On July 26, 2024, Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors passed a resolution to confirm initiation of an independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. In September of 2024, Metro Vancouver hired a lawyer to develop the scope of the review, the terms of reference for the review, and a process to select an independent, qualified reviewer.
On July 25, 2025, Metro Vancouver’s Board determined that a review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program was not in the public interest while Metro Vancouver’s litigation with former contractor Acciona is ongoing. On May 13, 2026, Metro Vancouver settled legal proceedings with Acciona, and it was announced that the independent review will resume. The independent review will have full access to Metro Vancouver’s documents related to the program’s history, finances, governance, and delivery.
Media releases:
Past community engagement
We have worked closely with North Shore communities, special interest groups, local governments, and First Nations since 2012 to learn about their values, interests, and concerns. This engagement informed the design of the new wastewater treatment plant.
Additional materials