Campbell River, BC News

Date: March 13, 2012

Businesses prepare for proposed John Hart project

BC Hydro has initiated the procurement process for the proposed John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

BC Hydro will take some time to review the interested bidding teams and eventually shortlist them down to three before issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) this summer. It is anticipated the work will be awarded in summer 2013, with construction immediately following.

BC Hydro has been actively talking about the procurement process with the Campbell River community and Island business leaders for several years. The primary reasons are to ensure the local and regional businesses and suppliers are aware of the project, and that they have a chance to promote their businesses for potential project opportunities. This proactive engagement approach led to a major projects web portal site (http://cr.majorprojects.ca/), one of the first of its kind for a community. The site was developed by the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce, with involvement and support from BC Hydro, the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, and the Vancouver Island Construction Association. The site went live in fall 2011, and to date, approximately 150 businesses have registered within the site's database.

BC Hydro will foster economic development for First Nations, the Campbell River community and the surrounding region with a preliminary estimate that the project will require about 2,000 person years of work. The upper estimated full cost of the proposed project is $1.35 billion.

BC Hydro and community business leaders will continue to update the community as the project evolves. With the upcoming RFP this summer, BC Hydro will follow through with its commitment to have a First Nations and community business open house so that area businesses and suppliers can meet the three bidding teams. This engagement process will allow local companies and the bidding teams to build relationships a year in advance of the construction award.

The John Hart project will also be commencing a number of important approvals, which will run concurrently with the procurement process, with key regulatory agencies including the British Columbia Utilities Commission and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. A key part of these approval processes will rely on the ongoing consultation with First Nations, and engagement of government agencies and stakeholders.

The proposed project is to construct a replacement water intake at the John Hart Spillway Dam, replace the three 1.8 kilometre long pipelines with a 2.1 kilometre tunnel, construct a replacement generating station beside the existing station, and a new water bypass facility. The earliest construction would begin is summer 2013, with minor preparation work such as trail re-alignments and road access beginning this summer through spring 2013. BC Hydro is working towards having the first replacement generating unit in-service by 2017, with project completion in 2018.

Quotes from community and business leaders:

Mayor, City of Campbell River, Walter Jakeway, and on behalf of Rivercorp.
"The John Hart project could not be coming at a better time for our community. Understanding the benefits of the project to BC Hydro, for Campbell River, with an average of about 400 new positions over five years in well-paying construction jobs, it will kick-start our community and help us get through these challenging economic times. The City and Rivercorp continues to work with BC Hydro and the broader business community so that people are aware and preparing for this approximate billion dollar project."

Executive Director, Campbell River and District Chamber of Commerce, Colleen Evans.
"The Campbell River Chamber applauds the rigorous planning process and efforts that BC Hydro has taken to engage, inform and prepare our community for the planned upgrades of the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project. Business support continued with the successful launch of the major projects web portal site, targeted at major project bid proponents and developed to showcase our local businesses to prime contractors seeking local services. As we progress forward with the procurement process, new opportunities will be developed to engage and support our business community. We look forward to enhanced collaboration with business leaders, organizations and industry partners to maximize business and economic development opportunities resulting from the John Hart project and other major construction projects in the region."

CEO, Vancouver Island Construction Association, Greg Baynton.
"VICA commends BC Hydro for their consultation and planning processes relating to the John Hart Generating Station. Members of the Vancouver Island Construction Association have built the infrastructure of communities up and down Vancouver Island and they look forward to connecting with the three short listed proponents when they are announced. Having the opportunity to participate in and benefit from publicly funded projects of this magnitude is vital to island families, communities and businesses."

Past Chair and Director, Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, Rick Roberts.
“VIEA continues to be impressed by the leadership shown by BC Hydro and local and regional business and industry organizations in working together to ensure maximum benefit accrues to the Vancouver Island economy during the John Hart project. We look forward to the continuation of this process which will be highlighted by the business open house this summer.”


Contact:

Colleen Evans
Executive Director
Campbell River Chamber of Commerce
250-287-4513
Colleen.evans@campbellriverchamber.ca

Greg Baynton / CEO
Vancouver Island Construction Association
P. 250-388-6471
W. www.vicabc.ca
George Hanson | President

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance | www.viea.ca
T. 250.591-0713 | F. 250.741.0177