Skip to content

Safer, cleaner, greener Elkford

Thanks to $40,000 in provincial Brownfield Renewal funding the Elkford Sewage Lagoons can begin the necessary steps towards redevelopment. Sixteen successful projects across British Columbia were awarded more than $730,000 in total through the Brownfield Renewal Funding Program.

Thanks to $40,000 in provincial Brownfield Renewal funding the Elkford Sewage Lagoons can begin the necessary steps towards redevelopment. Sixteen successful projects across British Columbia were awarded more than $730,000 in total through the Brownfield Renewal Funding Program.

The Province is providing $40,000 to the District of Elkford for an initial environmental investigation of the former sewage lagoons. This site now has a walking path along the Elk River and the district and community groups have expressed interest in having the land developed for recreational purposes.

Redeveloped brownfields increase local tax revenue from previously underutilized properties, reduce greenhouse gases from urban sprawl and generate sustainable land stewardship.

The Brownfield Renewal Funding Program is designed to encourage more brownfield redevelopment across British Columbia. Brownfields are abandoned, vacant, derelict, or underutilized commercial and industrial properties, where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination. These sites have great potential for redevelopment when the issue of contamination is addressed.

Bill Bennett East Kootenay MLA says “Our corner of British Columbia has a strong outdoor and recreation culture, so I’m encouraged that this funding will go towards expanding on that tradition. Redeveloping land that has up until now been unusable will further promote the Kootenay region as a tourism destination for outdoor enthusiasts.”

Since its creation in 2007 the Brownfield Renewal Funding Program has provided more than $5.2 million to support brownfield redevelopment and has funded 75 projects in 44 communities across B.C.



Andrea Horton

About the Author: Andrea Horton

Andrea began her career in the newspaper industry in 2007 as a reporter with The Free Press in Fernie, B.C. In 2017, she relocated to Salmon Arm to work as the publisher of the Salmon Arm Observer.
Read more