Cherry Creek Waterworks District Conversion Study

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March 2024 Community Engagement and Survey - Survey Now Closed!

Thank you to everyone that came out on Thursday March 14th to learn about and discuss the Cherry Creek Waterworks District Conversion Study. Copies of the presentation materials and presentation recording are now available to view (links on the right hand side of the page).

The community survey closed on April 5th. Survey results will be included in the report being presented at the Cherry Creek Waterworks District AGM on April 18th.

Introduction and Project Background

For nearly 70 years, the Cherry Creek Waterworks District (CCWWD) has been providing potable water and fire protection services to the residents of Cherry Creek (see context map for location details). In recent years, the Improvement District has faced a number of challenges due to various key factors including: aging infrastructure, rising costs (both construction and administrative), reduced capacity (both staff and elected officials), and the inability to access senior government grants. This has led the CCWWD Board of Trustees to consider a potential governance change – namely the conversion of the Cherry Creek Waterworks District to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD).

In 2023, the CCWWD commissioned Connections Planning Associates to conduct a high-level overview of Cherry Creek governance and services (click here to view the document), which was presented to the CCWWD Board for information on September 20, 2023. Since then, the CCWWD, in conjunction with the ACRD, have received funding from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (“the Ministry”) to undertake a more detailed Conversion Study, to explore the potential operational, administrative, and financial impacts of service conversion. Connections Planning Associates and Urban Systems Ltd. were recently selected to undertake this project, which will include community engagement and consultation throughout the study.

The primary purpose of the study is to inform and consult with the community regarding the potential conversion of CCWWD to the ACRD, in order to gauge community interest. No formal decision will be made as part of this study, which would typically require a community referendum by residents and property owners, which could occur following this study depending on community feedback. This website will provide the main portal for information sharing and community feedback, along with upcoming opportunities for public engagement. Thank you for your interest in this study.

History of Improvement Districts and Regional Districts

Improvement districts are a form of local government that have been providing services to British Columbia residents for more than 100 years. They were first established in the 1920s to manage large irrigation systems in the Okanagan Valley. They are regulated under the provincial Local Government Act through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

The Cherry Creek Waterworks District (CCWWD) was incorporated as an improvement district in 1957, in order to provide potable water service, as well as fire protection, to the residents of Cherry Creek, near Port Alberni, BC. The CCWWD provides service to about 790 homes in Cherry Creek. It is currently governed by a five-member Board of Trustees who are elected to serve a staggered three-year term. The most recent elections were held on April 19, 2023.

In 1965, the provincial government introduced a new form of local government in British Columbia with the creation of regional districts. Not only are regional districts responsible for region-wide planning and services, but they are also the de facto local government and service provider for all of the unincorporated areas within their boundaries, which are divided into electoral areas. Each electoral area has an elected Area Director who serves a four-year term, similar to the elected municipal officials in the region. Today, there are 27 regional districts in the province, spanning the majority of the province (except for the Stikine Region, which is still under provincial jurisdiction). The majority of the CCWWD is within Electoral Area ‘F’ (Cherry Creek) of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), with a small portion falling within Electoral Area 'B' (Beaufort).

With the advent of regional districts now providing the bulk of local government services to unincorporated areas, since 1989 the Ministry has been discouraging the creation or expansion of improvement districts and encouraging the use of regional districts as the primary rural area servicing vehicle. For example, the provincial government introduced a policy whereby improvement districts could not apply directly for capital grant funding, but it had to be submitted by a regional district (or municipality) on their behalf. This policy was enacted to encourage improvement districts to convert to a municipal or regional district service area. Where there once was as many as 327 improvement district in the province in 1983, four decades later that number was reduced to 189 in 2023.

Local Services Overview

Within the Cherry Creek area, the CCWWD, ACRD, and the Province all have important roles in providing local services to residents and businesses. These services include solid waste management, emergency services, and many others. The following table outlines the services provided and the responsible provider.


Conversion Study Overview

The Cherry Creek Conversion Study is a technical study that will provide information to the community regarding the two services that are provided by the CCWWD, namely water and fire protection. It will explore the potential impacts of the conversion of the CCWWD from an improvement district to a local service area of the ACRD, exploring the operational, administrative, financial, and governance impacts of conversion. No decisions regarding conversion will be made as part of this project; if it seems like there is interest from the community, then the decision will be put to a referendum vote for residents and taxpayers of Cherry Creek to decide.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

Essential to this project is keeping the community informed and involved. The CCWWD will host a Community Open House taking place March 14 at 7 - 9 pm at the Cherry Creek Community Hall. A virtual option will be offered for those that are not able to attend in person. Following the Open House, a survey will be launched to residents located within the Cherry Creek Waterworks District.

Stay updated on the latest news regarding upcoming engagement events by subscribing to project updates (this page, upper right).



March 2024 Community Engagement and Survey - Survey Now Closed!

Thank you to everyone that came out on Thursday March 14th to learn about and discuss the Cherry Creek Waterworks District Conversion Study. Copies of the presentation materials and presentation recording are now available to view (links on the right hand side of the page).

The community survey closed on April 5th. Survey results will be included in the report being presented at the Cherry Creek Waterworks District AGM on April 18th.

Introduction and Project Background

For nearly 70 years, the Cherry Creek Waterworks District (CCWWD) has been providing potable water and fire protection services to the residents of Cherry Creek (see context map for location details). In recent years, the Improvement District has faced a number of challenges due to various key factors including: aging infrastructure, rising costs (both construction and administrative), reduced capacity (both staff and elected officials), and the inability to access senior government grants. This has led the CCWWD Board of Trustees to consider a potential governance change – namely the conversion of the Cherry Creek Waterworks District to the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD).

In 2023, the CCWWD commissioned Connections Planning Associates to conduct a high-level overview of Cherry Creek governance and services (click here to view the document), which was presented to the CCWWD Board for information on September 20, 2023. Since then, the CCWWD, in conjunction with the ACRD, have received funding from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (“the Ministry”) to undertake a more detailed Conversion Study, to explore the potential operational, administrative, and financial impacts of service conversion. Connections Planning Associates and Urban Systems Ltd. were recently selected to undertake this project, which will include community engagement and consultation throughout the study.

The primary purpose of the study is to inform and consult with the community regarding the potential conversion of CCWWD to the ACRD, in order to gauge community interest. No formal decision will be made as part of this study, which would typically require a community referendum by residents and property owners, which could occur following this study depending on community feedback. This website will provide the main portal for information sharing and community feedback, along with upcoming opportunities for public engagement. Thank you for your interest in this study.

History of Improvement Districts and Regional Districts

Improvement districts are a form of local government that have been providing services to British Columbia residents for more than 100 years. They were first established in the 1920s to manage large irrigation systems in the Okanagan Valley. They are regulated under the provincial Local Government Act through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

The Cherry Creek Waterworks District (CCWWD) was incorporated as an improvement district in 1957, in order to provide potable water service, as well as fire protection, to the residents of Cherry Creek, near Port Alberni, BC. The CCWWD provides service to about 790 homes in Cherry Creek. It is currently governed by a five-member Board of Trustees who are elected to serve a staggered three-year term. The most recent elections were held on April 19, 2023.

In 1965, the provincial government introduced a new form of local government in British Columbia with the creation of regional districts. Not only are regional districts responsible for region-wide planning and services, but they are also the de facto local government and service provider for all of the unincorporated areas within their boundaries, which are divided into electoral areas. Each electoral area has an elected Area Director who serves a four-year term, similar to the elected municipal officials in the region. Today, there are 27 regional districts in the province, spanning the majority of the province (except for the Stikine Region, which is still under provincial jurisdiction). The majority of the CCWWD is within Electoral Area ‘F’ (Cherry Creek) of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), with a small portion falling within Electoral Area 'B' (Beaufort).

With the advent of regional districts now providing the bulk of local government services to unincorporated areas, since 1989 the Ministry has been discouraging the creation or expansion of improvement districts and encouraging the use of regional districts as the primary rural area servicing vehicle. For example, the provincial government introduced a policy whereby improvement districts could not apply directly for capital grant funding, but it had to be submitted by a regional district (or municipality) on their behalf. This policy was enacted to encourage improvement districts to convert to a municipal or regional district service area. Where there once was as many as 327 improvement district in the province in 1983, four decades later that number was reduced to 189 in 2023.

Local Services Overview

Within the Cherry Creek area, the CCWWD, ACRD, and the Province all have important roles in providing local services to residents and businesses. These services include solid waste management, emergency services, and many others. The following table outlines the services provided and the responsible provider.


Conversion Study Overview

The Cherry Creek Conversion Study is a technical study that will provide information to the community regarding the two services that are provided by the CCWWD, namely water and fire protection. It will explore the potential impacts of the conversion of the CCWWD from an improvement district to a local service area of the ACRD, exploring the operational, administrative, financial, and governance impacts of conversion. No decisions regarding conversion will be made as part of this project; if it seems like there is interest from the community, then the decision will be put to a referendum vote for residents and taxpayers of Cherry Creek to decide.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

Essential to this project is keeping the community informed and involved. The CCWWD will host a Community Open House taking place March 14 at 7 - 9 pm at the Cherry Creek Community Hall. A virtual option will be offered for those that are not able to attend in person. Following the Open House, a survey will be launched to residents located within the Cherry Creek Waterworks District.

Stay updated on the latest news regarding upcoming engagement events by subscribing to project updates (this page, upper right).



  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Cherry Creek Waterworks District Conversion Study - Community Survey

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Page last updated: 10 Apr 2024, 09:51 AM