qathet Regional District (qRD) finance committee members are recommending an $18,000 expenditure for the purchase and installation of a new generator at Haywire Bay Regional Park.
At the May 1 finance committee meeting, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the old generator has done its duty and that it is more than 15 years old. According to a staff report, the old generator is broken beyond repair and needs replacing.
“We need water at the park and I guess gone are the days of the old hand pumps for water,” said Gisborne. “I’m happy to support the replacement because Haywire Bay is in Area B and it’s an incredible park. People need water when they are out there on a hot summer day.”
Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox asked if the replacement would be included in the regional district’s asset management plan, with replacement noted in the plan. Manager of operational services Patrick Devereaux said if approved, the generator will be added to the regional district’s asset management program.
“I’ve already consulted with the asset management department and they have replacement on schedule,” added Devereaux.
City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott said the staff report indicates the generator runs the treatment plant for the water system at Haywire Bay. She asked if that meant all the water that comes out of hoses at Haywire Bay is treated.
Devereaux said that absolutely is the case.
“It’s a requirement from Vancouver Coastal Health that we supply the public with water,” said Devereaux. “It is tested every two weeks in the summer. Samples are submitted to Vancouver Coastal Health like any other water systems that have the same kind of criteria.”
The purchase will be funded from the regional district’s non-statutory reserve for the regional parks services and an amendment to the budget will be forwarded to a future finance committee meeting.
Directors unanimously carried a motion that the board direct staff to amend the 2024 Haywire Bay budget to include an $18,000 generator purchase and installation.
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