Country Club - Norwell Drive utility and street improvements

Looking for public input on street improvements along Norwell Drive

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 4, 2026 11:00 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo will soon begin replacing ageing underground sewer and water pipes along Norwell Drive. Together with Regional District of Nanaimo Transit, the City will leverage underground trenching work in the Country Club area to improve the street's safety, ease of access and to upgrade the transit exchange. The City is seeking public feedback until April 17, 2026 to refine earlier engagement.

What we heard – Round one engagement

Round one of community engagement concluded in August 2024. The City received input regarding issues and opportunities to create a safer transit exchange with better access to Country Club Centre Mall. The round one engagement summary can be viewed online.

Round 2 – Reviewing and refining concepts

Round two launches on March 4 to gather feedback on the concept plan for the transit exchange and mobility improvements built over the new underground utilities. Community members can get involved and share their feedback by:

Visiting nanaimo.ca/goto/CountryClub to review the concept plan
Completing an online comment form that is open until April 17th, 2026. Paper copies are available at the Vancouver Island Regional Library (Wellington Branch) in Country Club Centre Mall.

Planning and design, which began in spring 2024, is expected to conclude in 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin with trenching for underground infrastructure in 2027.

Link to Strategic Plan: This project supports Council's strategic goal of "Maintaining and Growing Current Services" by ensuring that the City continues to plan for, maintain and grow its services while remaining fiscally responsible and responsive to our community's evolving needs.

Key Points

The City of Nanaimo and the RDN are coordinating surface mobility improvements with the required 2027 replacement of aging watermains and sewers.
Public input will help shape the final design of the transit exchange and streetscape.
Round two of community engagement will be active from March 4th to April 17th, 2026, and will focus on sharing the concept plan for community review and input.

Quotes

"We appreciate the feedback received so far and look forward to hearing from the community again. Replacing ageing sewer and water allows us to enhance the surface transit exchange and active transportation network at the same time. Public input will help us finalize a design that meets the needs of the Country Club area."

Bill Sims

General Manager, Engineering and Public Works

City of Nanaimo