Metro Vancouver CEO Jerry Dobrovolny is pressed by New Westminster councillors on who will take responsibility for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant’s significant cost overruns amid rising concerns from taxpayers.

Deni Loubert – Local Journalism Initiative

Dobrovolny was tasked with explaining how the project’s budget ballooned from its initial $700 million estimate to its current projection of nearly $1.2 billion. The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, meant to modernize wastewater management in the region, has been delayed by contractor disputes and design failures, raising concerns about how these overruns will impact local taxpayers.

This project is not the first in Metro Vancouver to experience significant budget overruns. Over the past 20 years, large-scale structural projects in the region have exceeded their original budgets by an average of 30%, with the Port Mann Bridge and the Evergreen Line being notable examples. Meanwhile, Victoria, B.C., has managed major infrastructure projects with less financial deviation, averaging only a 15% increase over budget, including its new Johnson Street Bridge.

During the presentation, Dobrovolny emphasized that Metro Vancouver has implemented measures to prevent further cost increases, but admitted that the timeline for completion remains uncertain. “We’re committed to ensuring the project stays on track moving forward,” he said.

Councillor Daniel Fontaine, however, expressed frustration with the continued lack of accountability. “This is becoming a pattern with Metro Vancouver projects, and it’s the taxpayers who are left footing the bill,” Fontaine said. “We need concrete answers on who is responsible for these overruns and what’s being done to prevent them in the future.”

The council is expected to receive another update on the project in early 2025.