The City of Nanaimo will be able to proceed with the first phase of its plan to upgrade its public works yard once it concludes an alternative approval process.
The city will be turning the public works yard site on Labieux Road into what it is calling the Nanaimo Operations Centre. Phase 1 of the project, which is budgeted at $48.5 million, includes a $40-million fleet and maintenance facility with a truck wash and site servicing. The phase will also include $4.5 million for storm water management, $1.5 million for related work at the adjacent fire training facility, and $2.75 million for a multi-use pathway at Beban Park across the street from the public works yard.
City council gave staff the go-ahead to proceed with phase 1 at a meeting in May, then voted in June to proceed with an alternative-approval process.
The process means that residents, if opposed to the borrowing for the project, have until Nov. 3 to file a voter response to city hall. Elector response forms can be picked up at city hall or printed off from the city’s website at www.nanaimo.ca/goto/NOC-AAP.
“The alternative approval process provides eligible electors with the opportunity to voice their opposition to the borrowing bylaw and is a less costly process than a referendum,” said Sheila Gurrie, the city’s director of legislative services, in a press release.
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