Postponed Parks & environment

Natural asset management

A project to count nature, like aquifers and forests, in the Town's asset planning. On July 23, 2025, Council moved $10,000 of it from 2027 to 2028.

Amount
$10,000
Got
$0
Where it stands
To 2028. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025.

What it is

Natural assets are parts of nature that do work for a town, such as aquifers (underground water), forests, streams and wetlands. This project would include them in the Town's asset management and financial planning.

The project is budgeted at $30,000 in total. Two-thirds of it depends on getting a grant. On July 23, 2025, Council moved $10,000 of it from 2027 to 2028 as part of the Eaglecrest funding plan. The resolution says each deferred item waits one year, or until the Strategic Initiatives Reserve is paid back from future land sales.

The 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $20,000 for this project in 2027 and $10,000 in 2028.

What happened

  1. November 10, 2023The item was listed as planned for 2025 or later.
  2. October 21, 2024Staff proposed moving it to 2027 so the Town could first finish its main asset management program and an aquifer study. The budget rose to $30,000, two-thirds grant-dependent. The committee agreed unanimously.
  3. December 11, 2024Council adopted the change.
  4. July 23, 2025Council moved $10,000 from 2027 to 2028 (4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
  5. April 1, 2026The 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $20,000 in 2027 and $10,000 in 2028.

Why it matters

  • Staff said two-thirds grant funding was assumed because grants covering the full cost were not available.
  • Staff said the Town's two groundwater aquifers supply its drinking water.
  • The Urban Forest Master Plan recommends that the Town consider a natural assets registry.
  • The October 24, 2025 planning slide listing 2027-to-2028 moves leaves this item out. The July 23 list and the October 22 report include it.
  • Staff said the Qualicum Commons lease and the Eaglecrest purchase were not in their work plans for 2025 or 2026, so other planned work had to move.

Sources

Last checked September 19, 2026. Report a mistake.