“There is a window of opportunity to do business differently because we know from experience that the old ways do not work. Changing the language is part of the process of advancing change,” stated Christianne Wilhelmson.
The current Liquid Waste Management Plan for the Metro Vancouver region was approved in 2002 and is to be updated every five years. Updating the Plan offers the opportunity to consider past progress and include actions to address new issues and opportunities.
In April 2008, the Metro Vancouver Board appointed the Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Management Reference Panel. It will provide input on the discussion documents and on the subsequent Draft Plan. The Reference Panel concept is modeled on the Working Group approach which has been successfully implemented in the District of West Vancouver. “The Reference Panel will provide comments and advice on the strategies for updating the plan,” explained Director Marvin Hunt.
The Beyond the Guidebook Seminar in Novmber 2007 provided a timely opportunity to inform local government and land use practitioners regarding the emerging policy framework and senior government expectations for applying a 'Beyond the Guidebook' approach to land development and watershed management.
Management Forum has been working to establish a basin-wide Water Management Plan. The plan will ensure that there is enough water – for people and ecosystems – now and in the future.
The District has embraced ‘design with nature' as a philosophy for achieving integration of rainwater management and green infrastructure. Two projects in North Cowichan will be profiled as part of the Showcasing Innovation Series: the Echo Heights neighbourhood in Chemainus and the Stonegate subdivision.
In 2005, the Master Municipal Construction Documents Association (MMCD) published a Draft Green Design Supplement. The Green Design Supplement provides criteria and guidelines to design more sustainable (i.e. green) municipal infrastructure.
This publication focuses on the relationship between development patterns, water use, and the cost of water delivery. It reviews literature that shows how large-lot, dispersed development patterns can cost more to serve because of the length of pipe required, pumping costs, and other factors. It also includes policy options that directly reduce the cost and demand for water, while indirectly promoting smarter growth.
The Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) is one of the world's leading institutions concerned with education, training, research, and consultancy relating to the planning, provision, and management of infrastructure for development.
Michael Zbarsky, with the Municipal Engineering Services Branch of the BC Ministry of Community Services, delivered a presentation outlining the province’s perspective on green infrastructure to a 2005 Joint AGM in Burnaby. The AGM had a green infrastructure theme, and was of special interest to municipal engineers, planners, and others interested in introducing green infrastructure to their communities.
