Major Projects Advance Across the Sunshine Coast in the Fourth Quarter

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has released its fourth quarter update, highlighting significant progress on capital projects, community planning initiatives, emergency preparedness, and regional infrastructure improvements completed between October 1 and December 31, 2025.

This snapshot showcases key achievements from each department. Full quarterly reports are included in the January 22, 2026, Committee of the Whole meeting agenda package.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Water Meter Installation - District of Sechelt

This $12 million project, installing 4,500 water meters in Sechelt, is now 94% complete. It supports volumetric billing, leak detection, and water conservation, marking a major step in modernizing aging regional water infrastructure. The final large meter installations will be completed in early 2026.

Halfmoon Bay Community Hall Construction

Construction continued at a strong pace, with window and door installation now complete and mechanical and plumbing work progressing. Landscape design also advanced. The project remains on track for completion in summer 2026, delivering a much-anticipated gathering and recreation space. Follow along with the progress of the hall at letstalk.scrd.ca/community-hall.

Sechelt Landfill Vertical Expansion & Waste Export Feasibility

Feasibility studies on vertical expansion and off Coast waste export were completed. The Board has directed staff to include vertical expansion in the draft Solid Waste Management Plan for further engagement and analysis.

Official Community Plan (OCP) Renewal

Foundational work on the multiyear OCP renewal continued through late 2025, preparing for broad public engagement in early 2026. The renewed plan will guide growth, housing, climate resilience, and land use priorities across the region through 2027.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Coopers Green Park Enhancements

Archaeological and geotechnical assessments were carried out to confirm the feasibility of the new washroom location. These findings will guide the next phase of park upgrades.

Rosemary Lane (Keats Island) Erosion Mitigation

A shoreline protection contract was awarded, and construction is underway to stabilize the Rosemary Lane foreshore. Completion is expected in early 2026.

Transit Service Expansion

Planning wrapped up for expanded transit services launching January 2026, including more frequent weekday service on Route 90 and enhanced handyDART operations. New handyDART fleet vehicles have arrived, improving accessibility and reliability for riders.

Sports Field Strategy

The regional Sports Field Strategy continued to move forward, with final recommendations expected in early 2026. The strategy will help guide long-term investment, maintenance standards, and coordinated recreation planning across local governments and the School District on the Sunshine Coast.

Parks Service Review

A Parks Service Review is taking place to define and document amenity classifications, recommend service levels, establish annual maintenance schedules and tasks, and identify the resources required to support service delivery.

CORPORATE & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

SharePoint Records Migration

More than 926,000 electronic documents were successfully migrated to Microsoft 365 SharePoint Online, marking a major step in modernizing digital records, increasing collaboration, and improving long-term information management.

Hybrid Meeting Technology & Boardroom A/V Upgrades

A newly upgraded audiovisual system launched in fall 2025, streamlining hybrid public meetings with automated cameras, improved microphones, and enhanced streaming tools.

Langdale Wellfield - Elector Approval

The Alternative Approval Process concluded with elector responses below the required threshold, enabling borrowing for the Langdale Wellfield Construction Project.

Volumetric Water Billing Implementation

Work continued on the transition to a volumetric model. The first quarterly bill will be distributed for residents in the North and South Pender Water Service areas in April. Mock billing is anticipated to begin for the Regional Water Service later this year.

New Property Viewer

Development progressed on a modern, user-friendly Property Viewer powered by ESRI tools. Featuring new mapping layers, updated reporting, and improved print options, the application entered testing and will offer enhanced access to public property information.

EMERGENCY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES

911 Radio System Upgrades & Chapman Tower Study

Work continued on regional communications improvements, including acquiring new radio frequencies and assessing alternatives to a full tower replacement at Chapman Creek.

FireSmart Fuel Mitigation & Public Outreach

The FireSmart team completed extensive wildfire risk reduction work and have removed more than 250,000 lbs of material to date. Community outreach and neighbourhood engagement continued through this quarter.

Volunteer Fire Department Readiness

SCRD volunteer fire departments strengthened their training programs, and updated equipment. New recruits, improved prevention programs, and modernized gear helped bolster overall readiness.

Emergency Support Services Expansion

Emergency Support Services continued monthly training, supported standby responses, and enhanced preparations for the 2026 exercise schedule. Fourteen active members contributed to growing regional emergency readiness.

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Chapman Creek Water Treatment Plant UV Upgrade

A new UV system is under construction, improving reliability and ensuring safer drinking water even during equipment shutdowns. Completion remains on schedule for early 2026.

Pender Harbour Transfer Station Upgrades

Design work for Phase 2 upgrades is complete, with construction planned pending 2026 budget approvals. Improvements will enhance traffic flow, safety, and overall user experience at the transfer station.

Chapman, Edwards & McNeill Lake Dam Safety Upgrades

Upgrades to three major drinking water reservoirs reached completion in 2025. Final closeout scheduled for early 2026 will mark a major increase in long term system safety.

Sechelt Landfill Biocover Pilot

SCRD tested a biocover at the Sechelt Landfill to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Phase 1 showed economic and environmental benefits; Phase 2 piloted three test cells in 2023-2024. Results, summarized in a report, will be presented to the Board in early 2026.

Langdale Wellfield Development

The Langdale Wellfield project continues toward detailed design in 2026. Once complete, it will strengthen regional water security and support the region during peak demand and drought conditions. The new source is expected to be online in 2028.

Ongoing Feasibility of the Sechelt / shíshálh Hospital Wellfield
Following successful test well results, the feasibility of advancing as a new water source continue. A water license application was submitted to the Province in June, a land use agreement is being developed with Vancouver Coastal Health and engagement is ongoing with the shíshálh Nation.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Land Use Inventory

The Regional Housing Coordinator continued building a detailed inventory of underutilized public, nonprofit, and community lands. Engagement with partners is underway to explore opportunities for this land.

Small Scale Cluster Housing & Home Conversion Project

A major feasibility study launching in early 2026 will explore small scale cluster housing and home conversions. The resulting Resident Developer's Playbook will help homeowners and builders create gentle density housing solutions. This study is being conducted by the Regional Housing Coordinator.

Coastal Flood Risk Mapping

A detailed coastal flood risk mapping project was completed, providing updated insights into sea level rise, storm surge, and flood hazards. These findings will guide climate resilient planning and emergency response across the Coast.