The Town of Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast Regional District have entered into an agreement to implement a regional watershed management approach with the hopes of reducing water emergencies on the Sunshine Coast.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District says the agreement improves on the existing model established in the 2013 Bulk Water Agreement and will commit both governments to jointly expand the monitoring program across the ecological area of the watershed.
Along with providing better environmental stewardship, the SCRD says the partnership would provide a lot more insight into expanding infrastructure, including a transportation network plan, alignment of land use planning, and the protection of natural areas to ensure current and future growth meets the needs of the community.
Gibson’s mayor Silas White says the partnership will go a long way to improving the region and shows a willingness to work together to build a more sustainable community.
“Our staff’s hard work and diligent aquifer stewardship to make this plan happen exemplifies our community’s concern, cooperation, and willingness to work together to solve issues that affect the nature of the Sunshine Coast,” he says. “Through better collaboration and integration, we will all benefit.”
The partnership states the Town of Gibsons will continue to supply the SCRD with 1500 cubic meters of water daily to meet the district’s needs for 2023, and it’s anticipated the district will be able to satisfy their own needs in the future keeping water exchanges limited to emergency situations.
The partnership will also work in conjunction with the Squamish nation.
