Trans Mountain and the Village of Valemount have entered into funding agreements that will see more than $2 million invested in upgrades to Valemount’s current municipal water, sanitary sewer services and roads. These funds will go towards the construction, operation and maintenance of the water and sewer infrastructure upgrades to service Trans Mountain’s worker accommodation camp during its operation. The road upgrades will go towards paving 17^th Avenue, in recognition of the temporary increase in vehicle traffic related to the camp community and contractor yard along this road. These investments will help minimize impacts on the community as well as provide lasting benefits for the region.

“During construction discussions for the Valemount camp community, we determined the Village’s current water and sewer treatment systems did not extend to the location of our camp community, and the road connecting our camp to the treatment systems could be upgraded to manage our vehicles and transportation. Trans Mountain and the Village of Valemount came to the agreement that we would invest in the necessary infrastructure upgrades providing the community with lasting infrastructure upgrades and a resource for future opportunities,” said Ian Anderson, President and CEO, Trans Mountain.

Construction of the municipal water and sanitary sewer upgrades were completed in fall 2020 and are currently being used by the camp community and contractor yard. The competitive process for the road paving contract is now underway.

“We are pleased to have this agreement with Trans Mountain. The upgrades to the camp community site will have a lasting impact and provide many benefits to our community. With this new septic infrastructure, it alleviates the need for water and septic sewage transport and the associated traffic. The new water and sewer stations will provide a new revenue source for the Village, and these funds will be used towards additional much-needed infrastructure upgrades,” said Owen Torgerson, Mayor, Village of Valemount.

The installation of a sewage treatment plant will allow future tourism opportunities, subdivision planning, asset management and long-term development within the Village. Currently, any bulk sewage and waste are being transported out of the community for disposal. The creation of a septage receiving station will protect the sewage treatment plant, sewer infrastructure and the environment by including additional screening mechanisms.

“There is a significant need in our community for future development, and without the help of these upgrades, it would be extremely challenging to make that happen. A new paved roadway provides an immediate benefit for the community as well as a legacy to Valemount and helps future opportunities and development,” said Wayne Robinson, Chief Administration Officer, Village of Valemount.

Trans Mountain’s camp community near Valemount, BC is operating on land owned by Valemount Community Forest Company Ltd., of which the Village of Valemount is its sole shareholder. The site is operated by Tsetsk’wem Management Services – a Joint Venture between Simpcw Resource Group and ATCO, a partnership formed specifically for the Expansion Project.

These infrastructure agreements are in addition to local taxes, landowner compensation and a $185,000 Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with the Village of Valemount that will go towards funding community projects. The agreement includes $135,000 to support the eventual development of community housing on a parcel of Village-owned land, located directly south of the high school, and $50,000 in education funding to support students in the trades, technology and environmental programs related to the pipeline industry.

The Village of Valemount is part of Trans Mountain’s North Thompson construction spread that includes approximately 275 kilometres of pipeline construction between Mount Robson Provincial Park and our Darfield Pump Station north of Kamloops, as well as three pump stations.