City councillors received an update on the consolidated wastewater treatment plant, indicating that financially, the project is on track.
At the October 28 finance committee meeting, Nagi Rizk, manager of engineering services, provided a report regarding construction with data current to October 19.
Rizk outlined changes to construction costs for the treatment plant, where Graham Infrastructure, the general contractor, issued $335,000 in credits for alternate pumps, an alternate centrifuge, change of concrete specifications and alternate pumps and mixers. Rizk said the changes have been reviewed and the administrative team is comfortable with them.
There was also a change order request from Graham Infrastructure for additional nozzles on secondary clarifiers for $41,149. Rizk said at the time of the report, the project was a little bit below budget.
“There’s still a whole lot to construct, however,” added Rizk.
In terms of the contract administration cost, there were three change orders, amounting to $43,632, which brings the adjusted value of the construction administration contract with Associated Engineering to $4,882,266.
Rizk said that during the windstorms which hit the qathet region recently, people expressed concerns about the large crane that has been erected at the plant site.
“They are designed to withstand that and more,” said Rizk. “We can operate at up to 60 kilometres per hour and after that we shut it down.”
Rizk said the linear work, which involves the piping and lift stations for the project, has been awarded to Graham Infrastructure, but there are methodologies that are being negotiated with the contractor that may save some money.
“We are still discussing the schedules of construction,” said Rizk. “You will see a whole lot of activity out on the roads on the Wildwood section and on the Willingdon section. They are marking pavement, sidewalks and whatnot. Before they start digging they need to know what’s underground, so hopefully, we won’t have conflicts.”
The linear work contract with Graham Infrastructure amounts to $18,430,314.22 plus GST.
Public asked to be patient
Rizk said there is a coordination effort with the provincial ministry of transportation and infrastructure regarding linear work on the Wildwood bridge. Regarding the work being done in the community outside of the treatment plant site, the city is asking the public to be patient, he added.
“We will notify them door-to-door when we have to,” said Rizk. “If all goes well, we will be keeping one lane open at all times, so no one will not have access to driveways or places of work. It’s just going to get slower.”
Councillor Cindy Elliott asked about construction of the outfall, which was halted earlier this year out of environmental concerns. She asked what the window for construction for this winter would be.
Rizk said Fisheries and Oceans Canada has preferred times, and there is a misconception that there are limited windows about when work can be performed. He said the ministry prefers work to be done during certain times in the winter or summer, which are “least risk windows.”
“That’s for fish and fish habitat,” said Rizk. “However, we can work all year round. The rules are to not do damage to fish and fish habitat.
“We have revised the design of the outfall. It is now being retendered under the general contractor. All the permitting is in place. We have DFO’s blessings to carry on for one more year.”
Elliott said construction would be shutting down people’s ability to walk on trails. She asked when that was starting and for how long.
Rizk said the linear work will be going through the Willingdon Beach Campsite and through the Willingdon Beach trail, with the trail system being shut down from November 1 to June 30, 2022.
“We know somewhere in-between, there will be a whole lot of work happening and accessibility will be blocked,” said Rizk.
City comes out ahead, says councillor
Finance committee chair councillor George Doubt said with the credits Rizk outlined, the city has come out ahead, which puts it ahead of the game on the balance of expenses. Rizk said that was 100 per cent correct.
“I’m glad to see things like changing the concrete specifications is saving the city money, after we’ve done the engineering work to determine whether that is safe and appropriate,” said Doubt.
Doubt said it is important to have regular reports to the finance committee to be as transparent as possible with the public, so people know how the progress is going.
“Looking at the size of the project and the work that has to be done, and the complexity, I want to say that I appreciate it,” said Doubt. “And I think the committee appreciates the work you are doing to keep costs under control and deliver a good plant.”
