Clearwater now has a FrontCounter BC desk, provincial Environment Minister Terry Lake announced Friday.
The disk is located in the Headwaters Forest District office on Highway 5.
The Kamloops-Thompson MLA also presented a $400,000 cheque from Towns for Tomorrow for the District of Clearwater’s water system.
FrontCounter BC is a provincial agency that simplifies the process for individuals or small- to medium-sized resource businesses starting up or already operating, primarily in regards to Crown land.
According to the agency’s website, FrontCounter BC staff will guide clients through required permitting and licensing forms, help clients complete strong application packages, interpret land information, maps, management plans, follow-up and track the status of applications filed, liaise between ministries, agencies, and governments, begin referral processes with First Nations, and help identify and market economic development opportunities.
Lake also brought $400,000 for improvements to District of Clearwater’s Russell Creek water system. The previously announced Towns for Tomorrow grant will upgrade the level of treatment in Clearwater from chlorination to UV disinfection, ensuring that safe drinking water is provided in accordance with the Drinking Water Protection Act. Total cost of the project is projected to be $576,000.
As announced last June, Barriere is also getting $400,000 from Towns for Tomorrow. That money will be used for the installation of approximately 500 water meters, and conversion of 80 meters from touch-read to remote read.
The change is expected to result in significantly reduced water usage.
“Communities like Barriere and Clearwater may not have the population of cities like Kamloops, but have to deal with many of the same issues and challenges with significantly fewer resources,” Lake said. “Funding like the Towns for Tomorrow program makes a real difference for smaller communities.”
Towns for Tomorrow is a provincial program that provides funds for infrastructure projects in smaller communities (under 15,000 population) and regional districts.