Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

CLEARWATER & VALEMOUNT

North Thompson communities preparing for Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion impacts

Aug 31, 2020 | 5:09 PM

CLEARWATER, BC — The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project is getting underway, which will bring a huge influx of people into several communities along the route, up and down the Thompson Valley. Adam Donnelly spoke with a pair of mayors whose communities stand to benefit from the project – however, there are still concerns about capacity when it comes to the influx of people into those small towns.

The Trans Mountain Pipeline has run right through Clearwater for the last 65 years. As the TMX Expansion Project gets underway, that community is preparing for a huge influx of pipeline workers into town, and the challenges those extra bodies create.

“We’re not used to that, at this point,” Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says. “I think a lot of businesses are going to be in for a shock.”

According to the 2016 census, Clearwater has a population of around 2,300 people. Adding another 1/3rd or more of the population on top of existing residents will increase the strain on some amenities.

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“The first real impacts that have shown up have been on housing. The rental market is basically non-existent. Houses are selling in very quick fashion, in just a few days if they’re priced right. Market values are higher,” Blackwell explains. “Housing is the first big crunch, and it’s only going to move into other service industries – restaurants, etc, etc – as we move along.”

One private RV park owner has found space for the first wave of TMX workers and has been swamped with requests from others.

“We have probably fifteen long-term people living in RVs that are working on the pipeline that would like to be here for at least a couple of years,” Jon Kreke says. “And more requests every single day

Clearwater can look north up the Yellowed to see some of the potential community impacts. Valemount has already experienced many of the issues Clearwater is expecting to see.

“At the height of the project, there may be a thousand workers here. Essentially doubling our population,” Owen Torgerson, Mayor of Valemount says.

Construction of the $8.5 million worker accommodation camp is nearing completion.

“We’ve been in talks with Trans Mountain to ensure that the camp is fully serviced,” Torgerson says. “Not just for the workers saying there, but for other workers requiring groceries. We have one grocery store here.”

Both Valemount and Clearwater expect to see a similar benefit from the project. Trans Mountain has kicked in for significant upgrades to the water and sewer systems for both communities.

“From a village standpoint, we’re working with Trans Mountain on various infrastructure upgrades,” Torgerson says. “[Those] will be a benefit to the future of Valemount.”

“For our water system, it means improved fire flows and access with high-pressure water to areas we haven’t had it before,” Blackwell says. “As well as future industrial parks, some of which will be where the current [TMX] camp is being built.”

The TMX Expansion project is expected to be completed by 2023.