West Southlands Residents Association
Neighbourhood News
DUNBAR SEWER PUMP STATION
The sewer pump station on West 49th Ave (west of Dunbar, north side) has reached the end of its service life. It is being replaced to meet new safety requirements. It features an earthquake-resilient design with protection against rising sea levels. Construction began in early 2025 and is expected to be finished by summer 2026. The most disruptive activity (pile driving) was done in early August 2025 and construction of the building has begun.
When the station is completed, it will be screened from the neighbouring property by lodge pole pine trees, red flowering currant, and salmonberry. To screen the station from the street, salmonberry, HM Eddie yew, and snowberry will be planted in front.
The City is also exploring some possible improvements to the ditch along West 49th Ave to help address storm water drainage in the area.
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For more information, see our May 2025 Newsletter​​ or the City website about the project.
IONA TREATMENT PLANT
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The Highbury Interceptor takes Vancouver sewage to the 60-year-old Iona Treatment Plant on the south side of the Fraser. Work is underway on a $6-billion upgrade of the plant from primary to secondary treatment.
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ANNUAL MEETING NOTES
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NEIGHBOURHOOD NEWS
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2022 Dec Newsletter ( 简讯ä¸æ–‡ )
2022 August Newsletter ( 简讯ä¸æ–‡ )
2021 Dec Newsletter ( 简讯ä¸æ–‡ )
To be on our newsletter email list, send your email & street address to wsouthlands300@gmail.com
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THANK YOU MARY
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Mary Tataryn has retired from her role as Co-Chair of the West Southlands Residents Association. We have all benefitted from her tireless advocacy over the last 20 years. She has made our community a better place.
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HIGHBURY INTERCEPTOR
The Highbury sewer main runs through Musqueam Park; we walk on top of it on the trail from the bottom of Alma to the 48th Avenue path.
Some residents notice a sewage stink around the Interceptor Air Management Building. If you do, Metro Vancouver has asked that we register odours on their website or by phone 604-436-6777.​​​​
TRAFFIC CONTROL
On July 9, 2025, Council passed a motion to make the default speed limit on residential streets 30 km/h. This change will be phased in and our neighbourhood is one of a lucky 25 to be in the first phase (see map on the last page of this report). The change will come into effect when signs are installed.
In June 2023, the City made 51st Avenue safer by lowering its speed limit to 30 km/h, installing speed humps, and repainting the crosswalk at the Wallace Trail.
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BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
The bridge along the 48th Avenue path near Crown has been replaced and is looking very heavy duty!​​​
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FLOOD PREVENTION
These are some of the actions the City has taken to help prevent flooding:
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Regular inspections of neighbourhood catch-basins.
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Weekly monitoring of tide gates. The gates at the foots of Blenheim, Carrington and Dunbar have been replaced. The one at McLeery is next.
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Annual ditch maintenance.
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Monitoring of weather & tides throughout the winter.
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Placement of pumps at the Wallace ditch & at Celtic and Carrington during the winter.
简讯ä¸æ–‡
When the newsletter is posted in Chinese, it is translated by director Cynthia Fung.
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