Lake Country, B.C. - The District of Lake Country has hired new in-house civil construction and paving crews to reduce reliance on external contractors, improve response times and deliver better value for taxpayers.
The civil construction crew is estimated to save between $1.8 to $2.4 million over the next three years by completing select water and wastewater projects in-house. The paving crew will support road maintenance and smaller paving projects, improving scheduling flexibility at a time when municipalities continue to face rising construction costs and contractor availability challenges.
“This investment is about improving the way we serve our community,” said Mayor Blair Ireland. “As Lake Country continues to grow and costs continue to escalate, we need to keep finding responsible, forward-thinking ways to deliver municipal services and manage costs. Making the best use of taxpayer dollars is critical.”
A recent watermain project on Glenmore Road demonstrated the potential savings. The project included the installation of 330 metres of new watermain, services and hydrants, as well as the decommissioning of old pressure reducing valve stations. The work was estimated at $800,000 by an external contractor. The District completed this project in-house for approximately $530,000, saving an estimated $270,000.
The civil construction crew will support water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including work beginning on the Lodge Road sewer forcemain, while the paving crew will support smaller road maintenance and paving projects. Together, the crews give the District more ability to coordinate related work in-house, from underground infrastructure to road restoration.
“Having these crews in-house strengthens the way we coordinate capital and operational work,” said Matthew Salmon, Director of Infrastructure and Development Engineering. “It also means we can respond more quickly when priorities change, whether it’s a watermain break, storm damage or a road surface issue.”
The District will continue to use external contractors where appropriate, particularly for larger or specialized projects. The new in-house crews are intended to complement existing services and provide a more cost-effective option for work that can be delivered internally.
Media Contact
Zoë Callaghan
Communications Lead
District of Lake Country
[email protected]