qathet Regional District board will consider a recommendation from the committee of the whole regarding culverts on provincial ministry of transportation and infrastructure (MOTI) roads.
At the May 22 committee of the whole meeting, directors reviewed a resolution for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) brought forward by Electoral Area D (Texada Island) director and committee chair Sandy McCormick.
McCormick said the resolution pertains to lack of maintenance on roads.
“It’s to bring to their attention the lack of funding to local areas from MOTI is resulting in a deterioration of culverts,” said McCormick.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall asked if the motion was still relevant since directors had met with MOTI. McCormick replied that it was.
“It’s perhaps even more relevant when staff came to that meeting that was also attended by a number of directors,” said McCormick. “The point is that this area is being neglected by MOTI. Culverts are meant to provide some form of mitigation but are in fact causing problems”
City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott said MOTI representatives that talked to regional district directors and staff indicated the amount of money being provided is too small in comparison to the need.
“The ministry is prioritizing all their work with various criteria,” said Elliott. “Sometimes, all the money is shifted to an area that is wiped out, which leaves nothing for the other areas, which compounds this problem.
“In light of the increasing frequency of flooding, the amount of funding has to be increased. The amount of funding provided is woefully inadequate given the amount of flooding we have had.”
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he wants to see MOTI come up with asset management strategies for its culverts and infrastructure.
McCormick said at the meeting with MOTI, representatives stated that they do not do asset management plans for infrastructure such as culverts because they are too small.
“There is no direction for MOTI to do that,” said McCormick. “That might be another request we make to the province, asking that asset management plans be adopted for culverts, but that is a separate motion.”
The committee carried a motion that UBCM ask the ministry to provide realistic asset management and funding to restore culverts on MOTI-managed roads.
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