Since May 2007, BCTC has provided information about the CVI Project to:
- business/community/ratepayers organizations
- transmission customers and associations
- property owners along the proposed routing options
- Nanaimo Regional District elected officials and staff
- mayors, councillors and staff of municipalities in areas served by the regional transmission system:
- City of Nanaimo
- District of Lantzville
- Town of Qualicum Beach
- City of Parksville
- provincial MLAS
- environmental/naturalist/recreation organizations and user groups
- general public in the Nanaimo and Lantzville project study areas and
- local and regional media
A stakeholder database has been developed and is updated regularly to include individuals and organizations who have asked to be kept informed about the CVI Project
Routing Options
Earlier consultation focused on determining a preferred routing option for the proposed transmission line; either to Lantzville Substation, Jingle Pot Substation in Nanaimo, or to a new substation that would be built south of Nanaimo. Discussions with stakeholders, engineering and environmental studies determined that a southern routing option to a new substation south of Nanaimo was preferred.
Preferred Route Alignment
More recently, consultation has focused on the alignment of the proposed transmission line. We have received numerous comments and questions from the public through e-mails, letters and phone calls.
Input from our January open house, ongoing community feedback and continued discussion with First Nations has resulted in modifications to the alignment of the transmission line. We are pleased to announce that we will recommend a route that bypasses all residential properties as part of our application to the BC Utilities Commission.
BCTC has also moved the proposed transmission line an additional 200m away from properties along South Forks Road. This change to the alignment increases the tree buffer that separates these properties from the right-of-way boundary. To minimize visual impact, BCTC will also propose to construct the line using steel poles, which are less intrusive than the lattice towers used in the past.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to find out more.
January 2008
We hosted a community open house in Nanaimo on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Approximately 50 people attended the open house, representing property owners residing in or near the Village of Extension, and along South Forks Road. The open house was conducted in an informal, drop-by format allowing visitors to learn about the project at a pace reflecting his or her own level of interest and expertise, and to engage in dialogue with resource people on whichever issues were important to them.
The focus of the information material at the open house was a set of textual and graphic display panels offering details on the following:
- About BCTC
- The Transmission Grid
- Transmission Rights-of-Way
- Project Need
- Project Description
- Determining the Preferred Route – public consultation
- Determining the Preferred Route – to Lantzville Substation
- Determining the Preferred Route – to Jingle Pot Substation
- Determining the Preferred Route – to a new substation, Harewood West, north option
- Determining the Preferred Route – to a new substation, Harewood West, central option
- Determining the Preferred Substation Site
- Project Schedule and Cost
- Project Alternatives
- Environmental Studies
- Electric and Magnetic Fields
- BCUC Review and Approval
Orthophotos featuring the preferred route alignment were also on display. A feedback form was available for participants to record their comments on the project.
Representatives from BCTC were present at the events to answer questions to hear comments. BCTC staff and consultants represented the following disciplines:
- CVI Project Manager
- Regulatory
- Transmission Design Engineering
- Transmission System Planning
- Properties
- First Nations
- Community Relations
- Right-of-way Maintenance
The majority of concerns focused on the proximity of the proposed new transmission line to private residences, especially along South Forks Road. Residents were concerned about the potential visual impact of the transmission line, and noise from construction activities. The potential for impacts to groundwater and surface water run-off as a result of construction activities was also noted. Residents in the area requested that the transmission line be located away from private residences.
August 2007
May 2007
Community Open House
We hosted a community open house in Nanaimo on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There were 32 participants representing the interests of the general public, property owners, the Chamber of Commerce, First Nations, municipalities and the Regional District. A feedback form was provided for participants to share their comments, and members of the project team recorded comments and questions received from one-on-one dialogue with the participants. All comments received have been documented and distributed to the project team.
Topics of interest included:
- changes to existing transmission lines
- transmission rights-of-way on private properties
- growth and development in the Nanaimo area
- proximity to local recreational areas
- visibility of the new line
- alternatives analysis and the decision-making process
- environmental protection
Open House Materials
Click here for more BCTC information sheets.
April 2007
BCTC participated in the Association of Vancouver Island & Coastal Communities conference in Qualicum Beach and presented an overview of the Vancouver Island transmission system to a small but appreciative audience on Thursday, April 11, 2007 at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. Discussion centred around:
- The importance of uninterrupted access to safe and reliable electricity
- The link between electricity and our growing economy
- The concern around the lack of capacity on transmission lines between Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo
- The importance of energy efficiency initiatives
- Local generation opportunities
February 2007
The Central Vancouver Island Transmission Project was a topic of discussion with the more than 20 people who attended the Central Vancouver Island Regional Planning Meeting held Thursday, February 22, 2007 at the Coast Bastion Inn in Nanaimo. Discussion topics included:
- Transmission reliability
- Environmental sustainability
- Demand-side management programs (e.g. energy efficiency initiatives)
- Local generation opportunities, especially the potential of green energy
- Areas and amount of electricity demand
- Regional transmission system constraints and possible options for addressing them
More Information
If you were unable to attend our open house but would like to learn more about the project or share your comments, please contact:
BCTC Community Relations
604.699.7300
1.866.647.3334 (toll-free)
community.relations@bctc.com
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