One of the most popular attractions in Chemainus was removed and taken away to make way for a new waterwheel.
The waterwheel in Waterwheel Park in downtown Chemainus has been the subject of thousands of photographs over the years. But the Municipality of North Cowichan determined it was time for an upgrade.
“Staff will be draining and repairing the pond, removing the old waterwheel – which is past its life expectancy – give everything a good cleaning, and then finally install the new waterwheel,” North Cowichan said in a news release.
The waterwheel was removed on Thursday.
This work is part of the 2025 Parks Capital Plan, as the current wheel has reached the end of its service life. While the wheel is removed, a contractor will be conducting pond repair work to address significant leaks.
The installation of a new waterwheel will be Nov. 5. The goal is to have the new wheel installed before Remembrance Day, though this timeline may shift.
