North Cowichan is asking the province for urgent support as housing targets outpace local infrastructure capacity.
Council says zoning is in place to allow more than 7,000 new homes over 20 years, meeting provincial housing goals on paper. But water and sewer servicing remain the main obstacle.
About 4,200 new units have already been allocated capacity, while another 6,300 are waiting on major system upgrades estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The recent closure of the Domtar pulp mill adds further uncertainty. The mill currently supplies most of Crofton’s residential water, with that arrangement only guaranteed through the end of 2026.
Mayor Rob Douglas says “North Cowichan is supportive of the province’s goals to increase housing supply. However, our significant infrastructure and water licensing challenges stand in the way without provincial and federal support. We are calling on the Province to recognize these barriers and expedite solutions that would support new homes in our community.”
