Review team announced for North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant

METRO VANCOUVER — The MWGK Independent Review Team has been selected to conduct the independent audit of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program, Metro Vancouver has announced.

The team will be led by Peter Milburn, who is known for his role in the Site C Dam review and the Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4 project. During these reviews he conducted thorough evaluations and budget escalations and governance structures, a release reads.

“The collective experience of our team uniquely positions us to conduct a rigorous and impartial assessment of the project’s financial evolution, budget reliability, project management function, and governance,” said Milburn in a statement. “We look forward to getting to work and to sharing results back to the board with recommendations for the future.”  

The team was assembled by Milburn and comprises professionals who have in excess of 160 years of combined experience. The other team members include: Gary Webster, who has global expertise in infrastructure governance and risk management; Ed Green, who is known for cost estimation, risk analysis and construction planning and execution; and Al Knight, who specializes in infrastructure governance and performance evaluation.

“When I came in as the chair of the Metro Vancouver Board, I committed to bringing in an independent party to review the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program,” said Mike Hurley, chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors. “The reviewer was selected by an independent legal adviser. We look forward to sharing the results of this work with the public once complete.”

The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant Program has run into numerous delays, legal challenges and cost overruns over the years.

The estimated cost of the project now stands at $3.86 billion, up from an original estimate of $700 million. In October 2021 Metro Vancouver terminated its contract with Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP citing rising costs and delays.

Following the execution of the contract with PCL Construction to complete the project, construction is now increasing on the beleaguered North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.