Nanaimo Data Center Update
Dear Members,
The proposed data centre at East Wellington Road was brought to our attention earlier this fall, and several members asked Nature Nanaimo to look into its potential impacts. While we undertook this examination in response to those requests, it is important to restate our role: Nature Nanaimo is not an advocacy organization. Our purpose is to encourage education and understanding of our natural environment. We strive to maintain balance in our inquiries, refrain from judgment, and instead encourage our members to be active in their own understanding of community events and development decisions.
Through discussions with councillors, members, and community residents, it became clear that the City has followed its defined procedures, and the project has already passed three readings and moved into the permit stage, which is administrative and no longer subject to Council decisions. We also confirmed that water use, while significant, represents less than one percent of overall commercial and industrial consumption and will be metered and controlled. Hydro supply falls under provincial jurisdiction, and wetlands mitigation measures, though imperfect, are required under the land’s industrial zoning. Revisiting zoning at this stage could expose the City to liability risks, including international trade disputes.
While these clarifications provide assurance that the process has been transparent, they also highlight the importance of vigilance in how our community development decisions are made. Projects of this scale can have lasting ecological and social impacts, and it is essential that residents remain engaged and informed.
In this context, Councillor Paul Manly has tabled a motion that will be debated at Council tomorrow, Monday, November 17th. His proposal directs staff to prepare an amendment to Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 that would prohibit certain emission‑intensive industries from being permitted under blanket zoning. Instead, such projects would require site‑specific rezoning, public hearings, and consultation with the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The industries covered include waste‑to‑energy incineration, petrochemical plants, fossil‑fuel thermal electricity generation, petroleum refineries, LNG export facilities, and other heavy polluters with emissions harmful to human health or the environment.
This motion represents a proactive step toward safeguarding Nanaimo’s airshed, biodiversity, and public health, while ensuring that future industrial proposals are subject to full public scrutiny. Nature Nanaimo encourages members to follow this initiative closely, attend Council meetings where possible, and continue to participate in shaping a resilient and sustainable future for our region.
Warm regards, Gary Gauthier President, Nature Nanaimo president@