b'WASTEWATERNORTH SHORE WASTEWATERTREATMENT PLANT:An avoidable catastrophe BY AROBERT (BOB) SLOAT, REGIONAL DIRECTORWESTERN CANADA, SURETY ASSOCIATION OF CANADAR CABC member companies areaTheproject,begunin2017byMetro finds itself staring down the well familiar with the role ofAcciona Wastewater Solutions LP underbarrel of a $2.83-billion shortfall and has bonding for construction proj- fixed-price contract of $504 million,announced that residents of the North ectsthat surety prequalifica- was scheduled for completion in 2020.Shore in the direct catchment area would tion, and ongoing sharing of informa- Butby2021,theprojectwasonlybe assessed an additional $590 per year tion between surety brokers, contractors36-per-cent complete, with an estimatedfor the next 30 years to cover the differ-and their surety underwriters, underpinscostof$1billion.MetroVancouverence. Many of their neighbours will be the surety system. It is in this context thatterminatedAccionascontract,andbyassessed $150 per year for 15 years. The we process media reports on the NorthJune of this year, the bombshell newsMetro Vancouver Board committed to a ShoreWastewaterTreatmentPlantreview of the delays and spiralling costs. fiascostorieschroniclingconstruc- dropped that the total project cost hadManyfeelthatthisisinsufficientand tion/designproblems,lengthydelaysballoonedto$3.86billionandworkthat the province and/or the feds should and massive cost overruns that plaguedwould not be completed until 203010undertake a higher level and completely the project. years late and five times the cost.independent review and audit.10 lROOFINGBClFALL 2024'