Anderton Riverbank Restoration

Project status

Ongoing

The City of Courtenay is developing plans to remove the failing retaining wall along Anderton Avenue, restore the riverbank and create space for the community to enjoy.

The project area extends approximately 320 metres along the west bank of the Courtenay River, from 90 5th Street to the northern limit of Riverside Park.

This project is funded by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness through the Disaster Resilience Innovation Funding program. This work will improve long-term resilience by establishing a riverbank that is better able to resist erosion.

Have your say

The City is seeking community input to help shape early design ideas for the restored riverbank.

The online survey is open March 18 – April 15, 2026. Feedback from the survey will help inform conceptual design options. Once design options are developed, the public will be invited to review them and share feedback in a second round of engagement planned for later in 2026.

Hard copies of the survey will also be available at City Hall.

To participate in the survey and learn more about the project, visit the Engage Comox Valley project page:

Learn more and take the online survey

Aerial map showing the Anderton Riverside Restoration project area along the Courtenay River beside Riverside Park, between 5th Street and 1st Street. — Location of the Anderton Riverbank Restoration project along the Courtenay River at Riverside Park, between 5th Street and 1st Street.

Timeline

March–April 2026: Public engagement launched to gather feedback and inform the development of conceptual design options.
December 2025: The City begins working with a multi-disciplinary team led by KWL to develop conceptual design options for riverbank restoration.
October 2025: Demolition of the former Bridge Lounge, Cona Hostel and Anderton Arms buildings is completed by the Milner Group.
October 2024: The City acquires the former Cona Hostel building and property.
August–December 2024: Residents of the Anderton Arms building relocate. Support from the M’akola Housing Society is made available for the relocation process, and tenants are compensated based on length of tenancy.
July 2024: The City acquires the Anderton Arms building to address the safety risk created by the failing wall.
December 2023: The City notifies residents and the community about the risk of failure for the sheet-pile section of the Anderton Wall.

Site history

Photos showing how the project area has changed over time, including demolition of nearby buildings completed in 2025 to prepare the site for riverbank restoration.

An aerial image of the Courtenay River looking south toward the 5th Street Bridge, overlooking the Anderton Avenue retaining wall. Part of Downtown Courtenay is in the background..

Map detailing area of risk near the Anderton Wall.

The former Bridge Lounge by the 5th Street Bridge during demolition

Frequently asked questions

The City is inviting the public to share their vision for this area. Public input will help inform the development of conceptual design options.

Once the conceptual options are developed, the City will invite the public to review the options and share feedback. This feedback will help refine the preferred concept and inform a preliminary cost estimate.

This conceptual design phase is funded by the provincial Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness through the Disaster Resilience Innovation Funding program.

After a conceptual design is selected, the project will move into detailed design. During this phase, the preferred concept will be refined and the project cost estimate updated.

The detailed design will guide future construction at the site.

The site will remain in its current condition until the design work is complete and the project is ready for construction, which is currently estimated for 2028.

Supported by the Province of British Columbia

Active

Anderton Riverbank Restoration

Have your say

Timeline

Site history

Frequently asked questions

What is planned for this area?

Why restore the riverbank?

Will this change flood risk in the area?

How will the design be developed?

What happens once the design is selected?