A concept image for the naturalization of Vernon Creek in Polson Park. (submitted photo/City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Delayed to 2024

Naturalization of Polson Park delayed, costs have escalated

Sep 22, 2023 | 1:21 PM

The Polson Park Vernon Creek Naturalization Project has been delayed, and the work is expected to cost a lot more than originally estimated.

Work on the project aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in the park and improving fish habitat was expected to begin in 2023.

However, a report to Vernon City Council from Mathew Keast, Vernon’s Water Resource Engineer, said since archaeological items were discovered at the site in June, a Site Alteration Permit is now required from the Archaeology Branch of the B.C. Government.

The naturalization work must be done in the fisheries window, the next one is August 1 to October 31 2024, so the work has been delayed until that time.

Once approval is granted Phase 1 of the project will be undertaken, which involves the naturalization of the area from Highway 97 southeast of the duck ponds.

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Phase 2 of the project, scheduled for 2025, will start at the end of Phase 1 and continue southeast to the maintenance bridge crossing.

The phases of the Vernon Creek Naturalization project at Polson Park (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

The Request for Proposal (RFP) process for Phase 1 is planned for the Fall of 2023, and Phase 2 will be included as optional work that can be awarded as 2025 work subject to council approval.

The contract will be awarded to the successful applicant for Phase 1 of the work, with an option to also do Phase 2 subject to council-approved funding and contractor performance, once the permits are received.

The report to council stated the cost of Phase 1 of the project, including the costs associated with the Site Alteration Permit, will be $3,260,000. That is $1,310,000 more than the original estimate completed in the fall of 2022 using the previous year’s rates. The report equates that price hike to the average construction cost escalation from 2021 to 2022 of 41 per cent, and a six per cent increase in costs from 2022 to 2023.

As the site is prone to flooding, the City of Vernon is applying for a Community Emergency Preparedness Fund grant, through the Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaption (DRR-CA) funding stream, to cover some of the costs of the project.

A maximum of $5,000,000 in grant funding can be obtained through the DRR-CA funding stream is the city is successful in its application, the deadline for which is October 6, 2023.

The report asks council to direct staff to apply for that grant.

Council will be presented the report at the Sept. 25 regular meeting. The recommendations are that council accept the report, task staff with applying for the DRR-CA grant, and proceed with the project delivery method.