Regional directors provided updates at the qathet Regional District board meeting on January 28, with issues including transportation and road maintenance.
Regional district chair and Electoral Area A director Patrick Brabazon said he had attended a monthly teleconference with BC minister of municipal affairs and housing Josie Osborne. Brabazon said she had some interesting news. He said the minister suggested that the infrastructure program coming out under the banner of COVID-19 restart will have a lot more money coming shortly.
“We’ll wait and see for that,” said Brabazon. “It sounded good.”
He said several local government people on the teleconference had concerns about what constitutes travel.
“The government is telling us we should not travel,” said Brabazon. “I think it was the mayor of View Royal saying ‘am I supposed to hunker down in View Royal, or can I go to Victoria? Can I just step over to Langford?’ We need some clarification. If what they mean is you shouldn’t go outside your regional district is one thing, but we’d just like some clarity from the government, which is straightforward.”
Brabazon said the minister wanted to know what projects local governments have underway and he mentioned the concern over lack of public transit from the qathet region to the Lower Mainland, and that work was being done with the Sunshine Coast Regional District. He said there was cautious optimism from BC Ferries regarding the transit route. According to Brabazon, the minister weighed in and said she was concerned about the lack of public transport.
“We’ll see what comes out of that,” said Brabazon.
During director reports, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he had some good news in relation to the McLeod Road-Padgett Road access corner, which he had previously brought up at committee of the whole. He said his understanding of the issue from the resident who brought forward a petition on the matter is that according to the previous manager, the ministry of transportation and infrastructure wouldn’t do any work on the McLeod intersection until the regional district fixed up access to the adjacent firehall.
“I thought this was a bit of an excuse but a petition had been brought forward and I brought the concerns of the community forward to the regional board,” said Gisborne. “The good news is the squeaky wheel might be getting some grease.”
Gisborne said he received an email indicating the petitioner had reviewed the McLeod Road situation with the current road manager. Gisborne said the email indicated there may be an initiative to improve the intersection in the future. He indicated the email said it would require planning and budgeting, however, it’s a possibility in the new fiscal year.
“This is fantastic news,” said Gisborne. “Residents want safe transportation infrastructure. The Paradise Valley exhibition regional park attracts residents from all over.
“I’d just like to express my thanks to the local area manager for the ministry of transportation, taking a serious look at this issue, which is of concern to the residents.”
Gisborne said he’d also like to thank members of the public who pushed the issue forward with a petition.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to decline any further consideration of the regional district paving the Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department number two hall access, parking area or apron, and any portion of McLeod Road.
