Public Notice

Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel - Chilco Shaft - Public Comments Invited

April 15, 2021 – As part of its Project and Environmental Review process, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority must determine whether the proposed Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel - Chilco Shaft, located at South of Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) and adjacent to Chilco Street, Vancouver, BC, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.  Written comments to be received by May 14, 2021.

To help inform this determination and a decision on whether or not to approve the proposed project, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by May 14, 2021 via the online commenting tool or to:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Project and Environmental Review
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. Canada  V6C 3T4

per@portvancouver.com

The Proposed Project

The Greater Vancouver Water District   is planning to construct a major water infrastructure project, referred to as the Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel, to replace a section of existing water supply infrastructure. When complete, the new tunnel will meet current seismic standards, help ensure the continued reliable delivery of clean, safe drinking water to the region, and increase the capacity of the existing system to support the region's growing population. The Project involves the excavation of a 1,400 metre long, 4.2 metre diameter, water supply tunnel that will range between 45 to 50 metres below the ground surface of Stanley Park, connected to three access shafts. The Chilco Shaft is located within the port authority's jurisdiction.

Works include:

• Water Tunnel excavation: 4.2 metres in diameter, 415 metres long, and approximately 45 to 50 metres below the surface of Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.
• Temporary Bypass Pipe: installed to reroute water flow around the existing valve chambers, which will be decommissioned and removed. The bypass pipe will be decommissioned at the end of the Project.
• Shaft: constructed that connects to the tunnel. The depth of the shaft is expected to be approximately 45-50 metres below ground surface and the diameter will be minimized to the extent possible (currently estimated at 5 metres excavated diameter).
• Valve Chamber: constructed at the south end of the laydown area adjacent to Chilco Street, located on top of the new shaft to limit disturbance in the area. The valve chamber will be below grade, with ancillary items above grade (e.g. access hatches, equipment hatches, ventilation intake and exhaust fans).
• Backup Power Building: housing a generator room and electrical room, constructed to the south of the new valve chamber. The building, approximately 5.5 metres by 13 metres, will be partially hidden in the slope. Visible sections will be designed to the architectural requirements in Stanley Park. A louvered ventilation penthouse will extend above the roof.
• City of Vancouver Flow Meter Chamber: will be constructed adjacent to the new valve chamber, and will be accessed via manhole and ladder. The chamber will not include any HVAC equipment.
• Shallow Buried Piping: piping will be installed to connect the new valve chamber to the existing water mains in the area. Piping will be installed in a trench and backfilled to ground surface following completion of construction.

Upon completion of the proposed works, and following the successful hydrotest, the new line will be cleaned and disinfected. There will be discharge of construction water, and potentially water main disinfection, into Burrard Inlet (the disinfection procedure has yet to be determined).

The expected footprint of the Chilco Shaft Area is 5,400 square metres.