| 2005 | Stantec Consulting Ltd and Dayton & Knight Ltd completed a comprehensive facility plan study assessing options for upgrading the treatment level of the Lions Gate and Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plants. | Report:
|
| 2007 | Stantec Consulting Ltd evaluated several location options for a new plant, and concluded that the 3.5-hectare site on former BC Rail lands in the District of North Vancouver, two kilometres east of the existing Lions Gate plant, was the best value site with the least impacts on surrounding communities and the environment. | Report:
|
| April 2008 | Metro Vancouver purchased the site of the future North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant at 107 Pemberton Avenue, District of North Vancouver. | |
| 2011 and 2012 | Metro Vancouver’s Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan, approved by the Province in 2011, and the 2012 Federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulation, set a December 31, 2020 deadline for upgrading the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant to secondary treatment. | |
| Early 2012 | Metro Vancouver commenced work on an indicative design process for the new plant, and associated engagement with the community, First Nations, and other interested parties.
The Lions Gate Public Advisory Committee was formed by Metro Vancouver to represent the interests of the new plant’s adjacent neighbourhood, businesses on the North Shore, and environmental groups throughout the region. | |
| April 12, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board received for information an update on the Project Definition Phase of the Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| May 24, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board directed staff to arrange a two-day study tour to visit treatment plants in Washington State and authorized remuneration and expenses for the tour. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 14, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the May 23, 2013 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report.
| Minutes:
Report:
|
| September 24, 2013 | At a Special Meeting, the Utilities Committee received for information presentations regarding:
- Indicative design
- Procurement options analysis
- Community engagement activities
| Minutes:
Presentations:
|
| September 27, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the August 7, 2013 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
Attachment:
|
| October 3, 2013 | The Utilities Committee requested the GVS&DD Board Chair create a subcommittee to review and make recommendations on the business case and value-for-money assessment for procurement of design and construction of the Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant. | Agenda:
Report:
|
| November 15, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board endorsed the indicative design for the Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant and directed staff to use the indicative design as the basis for senior government funding applications and for the procurement work for design and construction of the new plant. The indicative design report noted that the estimated project budget at the time was in the order of $700 million (2018 dollars). This estimate contemplated construction beginning in 2014 and being complete by 2020.
The Board also received for information the engagement and consultation results for the Project Definition Phase. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| November 15, 2013 | The GVS&DD Board approved revised definitions for GVS&DD Cost Allocations Tiers I and II, in relation to wastewater treatment facility upgrades, including Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant and Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| December 12, 2013 | The Utilities Subcommittee on the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant received presentations on procurement approach options (including a value-for-money analysis) and available government infrastructure funding programs and directed staff to begin drafting a committee report on the procurement approach. | Minutes:
Additional materials:
|
| February 28, 2014 | The GVS&DD Board approved proceeding with a design-build-finance procurement strategy and directed staff to apply for federal and provincial grant funding towards the new plant.
Under a design-build-finance project delivery model, the contractor is responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, and process performance of the plant. | Minutes:
Report:
Attachment:
|
| May 2, 2014 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the March 31, 2014 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| May 2, 2014 | The GVS&DD Board authorized the dedication of 14.2 square metres of land at the site of the new wastewater treatment plant to the District of North Vancouver for a road. | Released from closed:
|
| July 25, 2014 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the June 10, 2014 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| April 17, 2015 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the February 9, 2015 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| May 15, 2015 | The GVS&DD Board directed staff to apply to the PPP Canada Funding Program, based on the design-build-finance model. | Minutes:
Report:
Correspondence:
|
| July 31, 2015 | The GVS&DD Board authorized the appointment of the Lions Gate Public Advisory committee membership. | Released from closed:
|
| July 31, 2015 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the June 18, 2015 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| November 27, 2015 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the October 29, 2015 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| February 26, 2016 | The GVS&DD Board received for information the January 20, 2016 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Quarterly Report. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| April 1, 2016 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the Owner’s Engineer contract (for design-build-finance procurement consulting services) to AECOM Canada Ltd. (AECOM) for $2.4 million.
The Owner’s Engineer serves as GVS&DD’s representative, providing project management and quality assurance support to GVS&DD during all stages of the project. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 24, 2016 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the contract for conceptual and preliminary design of the First Narrows Pump Station and conveyance pipes to AECOM for $1.4 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| July 29, 2016 | The GVS&DD Board received the June 29, 2016 Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Quarterly Report for information. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| March 2017 | Metro Vancouver received $212.3 million in federal government funding and $193 million in provincial government funding towards construction of the new plant. | Award release:
|
| March 31, 2017 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the design-build-finance contract to Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP (Acciona; formerly ADAPT Consortium). | |
| April 2017 | GVS&DD Board directed staff to enter into design-build-finance contract with Acciona. The estimated program cost (inclusive of the Acciona contract, other contract costs, and Owner’s costs) was $780 million with a substantial completion date (construction completion) of December 2020. | |
| April 6, 2017 | The Utilities Committee received for information an update on engagement and communications, as well as notification of a public name change for the project. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| April 28, 2017 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the Owner’s Engineer Design-Build-Finance Contract Implementation Consulting Services Contract for the Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Project to AECOM for $9 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| April 28, 2017 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the Pump Station and Conveyance Design-Build Procurement Consulting Services Contract to AECOM for $2 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| July 28, 2017 | The GVS&DD Board approved the addition of effluent heat recovery to the program scope at an estimated cost of $17.9 million. | Minutes:
Report:
Attachment:
Presentation:
|
| September 22, 2017 | The GVS&DD Board approved the expenditure of $17.9 million for Acciona to proceed with effluent heat recovery and authorized Metro Vancouver to enter into an agreement with Lonsdale Energy Corporation for the district energy system. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| Mid-2017 to mid-2018 | Acciona completed ground improvements on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant site to prepare the site for construction. | Fact sheets:
|
| May 25, 2018 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the design-build-finance contract for the Conveyance Project to North Shore Conveyance Partners (a joint venture between Kenaiden and Michels Canada). | |
| June 22, 2018 | The GVS&DD Board approved the award of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Conveyance Project Construction Administration Services Contract to AECOM for $1.5 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 22, 2018 | The GVS&DD Board authorized the acquisition of a lease from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for a portion of land required for the conveyance system alignment. | Releases from closed:
|
| August 2018 | Acciona started construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. | |
| Late 2018 | North Shore Conveyance Partners started construction on the Conveyance Project. | |
| January 25, 2019 | The GVS&DD Board received an update regarding the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentation:
|
| Early 2019 | In early 2019, Acciona had contractual issues with their original partners and the parties went their separate ways. | |
| March 29, 2019 | The GVS&DD Board received for information a report on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Indicative Design and directed staff to report back with information on tertiary treatment options. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| Spring/Summer 2019 | Acciona approached Metro Vancouver claiming that it was impossible to complete the project on budget and on schedule. After considering the cost of alternative options, Metro Vancouver entered into negotiations with Acciona which resulted in increased costs and an additional 2.5 years to complete the project. | |
| June 28, 2019 | The GVS&DD Board received for information a report detailing options for tertiary treatment at the North Shore and Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plants. | Released from closed:
|
| July 26, 2019 | The GVS&DD Board approved the option to proceed with tertiary filtration for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant to better protect the environment and meet the needs of a growing region, for an additional cost of $29 million. | Released from closed:
|
| February 26, 2021 | The GVS&DD Board advised the public on March 12, 2021 of the revised estimated program cost of $1.058 billion and the revised substantial completion date of 2024. The revised program cost considered the cost to complete based on 2019 negotiations with Acciona. | Released from closed:
|
| April 30, 2021 | The GVS&DD Board approved a contract amendment to AECOM for Owner’s Engineer Advisory Services for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| May 8, 2021 | Metro Vancouver provided an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Council of Councils (a standing committee of all local government elected officials in the region). | Minutes:
Presentation:
|
| May 28, 2021 | The GVS&DD Board directed staff to consider debt amortization options for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant and to set up a workshop for discussion. | Minutes:
Presentation:
|
| June 2021 | Metro Vancouver received a claim from Acciona that the treatment plant construction would take an additional 26 months to complete, at an additional cost almost double the original contract price. Metro Vancouver determined that under the terms of the project agreement, Acciona had no basis on which to claim additional cost or time to complete the project. The independent certifier also rejected Acciona’s claim for payment at that time.
| |
| September 2, 2021 | The GVS&DD Board received information regarding debt amortization options for the project. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentation:
|
| September 29, 2021 | Metro Vancouver learned that Acciona had, without notice, laid off about 130 staff working on the project, leaving only about 50 field staff remaining. This was in addition to earlier staff cuts in August 2021. | Media coverage:
|
| October 15, 2021 | The GVS&DD Board directed staff to issue Acciona with notice of default and intent to terminate the contract, and began taking steps to initiate a procurement process for an alternate contractor, conditional on termination. | Media coverage:
|
| Late 2021 – early 2022 | Metro Vancouver undertook a competitive Request for Proposals procurement process (conditional on the termination of Acciona) through which PCL was selected for “Contract 1” which was to help transition and provide early contractor involvement to inform a realistic estimate for completion of the project. | |
| February 25, 2022 | The GVS&DD Board awarded the Early Contractor Involvement and Construction Management Services contract to PCL for $40 million. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentation:
|
| March 25, 2022 | The GVS&DD Board authorized an amendment of AECOM’s Owner’s Engineer contract to allow AECOM to transition into the role of Designer Consultant/Engineer of Record for $15 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| March 31, 2022 | Acciona commenced legal action against Metro Vancouver in regards to the termination of its contract to design and build the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. | Acciona Claim:
|
| April 29, 2022 | The GVS&DD Board received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentation:
|
| May 18, 2022 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated May 10, 2022. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 8, 2022 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated May 20, 2022. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 15, 2022 | Metro Vancouver filed a counterclaim and response to Acciona’s civil claim. | MV Counterclaim:
MV Response to Civil Claim:
|
| July 13, 2022 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated June 27, 2022. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| July 2022 | Metro Vancouver authorized PCL to commence Early Works, which included a concrete deficiency assessment and repair package. | |
| September 2022 | North Shore Conveyance Partners completed construction of the Conveyance Project. | |
| September 21, 2022 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated September 7, 2022. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| October 5, 2022 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated September 28, 2022. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| February 8, 2023 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated January 25, 2023. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| March 15, 2023 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated March 6, 2023. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| March 31, 2023 | The GVS&DD Board approved a change order for PCL’s Early Contractor Involvement and Construction Management Services contract (expanded Early Works for additional pre-construction works) for $85 million. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| April 12, 2023 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated April 4, 2023. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| May 17, 2023 | The Liquid Waste Committee received for information an update on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Manager’s Report, dated May 8, 2023. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| June 30, 2023 | The GVS&DD Board received for information a program overview and background presentation and report on the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentation:
|
| July 28, 2023 | The GVS&DD Board approved a change order for design-build consulting services from AECOM for $113 million to complete detailed design and other activities to support project completion. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| July 28, 2023 | The GVS&DD Board awarded a contract for technical services for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project to Stantec for $25 million, to support due diligence and project management. | Minutes:
Report:
|
| September 29, 2023 | The GVS&DD Board Chair struck a task force to conduct a review of various options to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. | Media release:
|
| November 22, 2023 to March 15, 2024 | Four North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Task Force meetings were held between November 2023 and March 2024 (all meetings held in camera).
Meeting dates:
| Minutes: December 15, 2023 Meeting
February 15, 2024 Meeting
Task Force Membership from November 2023 to March 2024:
- Mayor George V. Harvie (Chair) – Delta
- Mayor John McEwen (Vice Chair) – Anmore
- Mayor Malcolm Brodie – Richmond
- Mayor Linda Buchanan – North Vancouver City
- Councillor Lisa Dominato – Vancouver
- Councillor Steve Ferguson – Langley Township
- Councillor Craig Hodge – Coquitlam
- Mayor Mike Hurley – Burnaby
- Mayor Patrick Johnstone – New Westminster
- Mayor Meghan Lahti – Port Moody
- Mayor Mike Little – North Vancouver District
- Mayor Brenda Locke – Surrey
- Mayor Dan Ruimy – Maple Ridge
- Mayor Mark Sager – West Vancouver
- Mayor Brad West – Port Coquitlam
|
| March 22, 2024 | The GVS&DD Board received the updated program cost and schedule and authorized release of the cost and schedule from closed. The revised estimated program cost of $3.86 billion, reasons for the cost increase, and the revised expected substantial completion date of 2030 were publicly announced on March 22, 2024. | Media release:
|
| April 17, 2024 | The Metro Vancouver Board held the annual Budget Workshop to discuss Metro Vancouver’s 2025 Budget and 5-Year Financial Plan. Allocation of costs for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program were a focus of discussion. | Minutes:
Presentation:
|
| May 17, 2024 | A second Metro Vancouver Board Budget Workshop was held to discuss allocation of costs for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program and how they would fit into Metro Vancouver’s 2025 Budget and 5-Year Financial Plan. | Minutes:
Report:
Presentations:
|
| May 31, 2024 | The Metro Vancouver Board held a third Budget Workshop to discuss Cost Allocation and Phasing Framework for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program Cost Increase. | Report:
|
| May 31, 2024 | The Metro Vancouver Board decided cost allocation and phasing will be used to incorporate the $2.8 billion budget increase required to complete the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program into Metro Vancouver’s 2025 budget and 2025-2029 Financial Plan, to be considered by the Board in October 2024 as part of the annual budget process. To reduce impacts in the short term, the GVS&DD Board determined that costs for the North Shore Sewerage Area would be phased in over five years and costs for the Vancouver, Fraser, and Lulu Island Sewerage Areas will be phased in over one year. | |
| June 18, 2024 | The GVS&DD Board Chair announced that Metro Vancouver will initiate an independent review of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program. | Media Release:
|
| July 26, 2024 | The GVS&DD Board initiated an independent performance audit of the project, directing the Chair to identify experienced external legal counsel to be maintained by Metro Vancouver to advise on the scope, terms of reference, and process for selecting an independent and qualified reviewer, which will be brought forward for consideration at a future Board meeting. | |
| September 14, 2024 | The GVS&DD Board Chair announced that Metro Vancouver had retained a lawyer to advise the Board on the independent performance audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program, including advising on the scope of the review, the terms of reference for the review, and on a process to select an independent, qualified reviewer. | Media Release:
|