Comox Valley Dialogue with Developers: Align Efforts at a Watershed Scale to Mitigate ‘Infrastructure Liability’

Learn more at the 2011 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Seminar Series in April - May - June

Local governments in British Columbia are faced with this challenge: the initial capital cost of infrastructure is about 20% of the life-cycle cost; the other 80% largely represents a future unfunded liability. Fiscal constraints provide a powerful impetus for doing business differently to ‘achieve more with less’.

"The unfunded ‘infrastructure liability’ is a driver for local governments to consider longevity, focus on what happens after developers hand-off municipal infrastructure, get it right at the front-end, and prepare for the future. Climate change is part of the liability equation - adaptation has level-of-service implications for infrastructure," explains Derek Richmond, Manager of Engineering with the City of Courtenay.

“Looking at the big picture will give everyone the right perspective for the smaller, individual initiatives. Consequently, long-term O&M liabilities associated with infrastructure can be reduced or minimized. We are open for business to look at new and innovative applications and technologies that have been properly researched and are applicable to the situations at hand. Think beyond our borders. Think in terms of integrated watershed planning in a cooperative, coordinated and collaborative manner.”

The CAVI-Comox Valley Regional Team is setting the stage for A Regional Response to ‘Infrastructure Liability’. A 3-part seminar series will provide a forum for shared learning. The target audience is land use and infrastructure professionals in the local government and development sectors. To learn more, click here.

Seminar #1 in the 2011 Series will be hosted by the Town of Comox on April 14^th. To register, click here. Space is limited. Registration will be capped at 45. The registration fee is $25 plus HST.

Comox Valley Update #2011-02

March 17, 2011