A servicing agreement between the City of Courtenay and the K’ómoks First Nation for the provision of water and sanitary sewer services to K’ómoks First Nation IR No.2 property on Condensory Road  ̶  including the site of the Puntledge RV Campground  ̶  was signed at a special ceremony on March 17.

The agreement will allow the K’ómoks First Nation to expand the campground and consider other economic development opportunities. The K’ómoks First Nation has also expressed interest in building a residential housing complex on the property. The signing ceremony was part of the Community 2 Community Forum hosted by the K’ómoks First Nation in their boardroom on Comox Road.

Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula said the agreement is a mutually beneficial one. “We’re pleased that the K’omoks First Nation now has access to the infrastructure they need to move forward on development on their property“, noted Jangula. “The benefit to Courtenay is the boost to our local economy from this development – particularly in our downtown core, but also to the broader Comox Valley community. This agreement will have a very positive ripple effect.

“We believe this agreement demonstrates the city’s continued commitment to building an even stronger relationship with K’ómoks First Nation.”

“K’ómoks First Nation is elated with the signing of the agreement,” said Chief Rob Everson. “The Nation has worked for over two decades for this opportunity to establish infrastructure on IR #2 to support economic development.  We are very pleased with the strengthened relationship with the City of Courtenay.”

A non-binding Agreement in Principle to provide water and sanitary sewer to the Condensory Road property was originally announced in May 2015, and was developed in consultation with the Comox Valley Regional District. Since then, the City of Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation have been working on the development of the detailed servicing agreement that will provide water and sewer services to the IR No. 2 land.

The City of Courtenay typically does not provide municipal services outside of their boundary, and the agreement is not a precedent for providing municipal services to any other rural areas outside the city boundary.