Logging in Hospital Hill area part of BC Hydro’s routine maintenance program

*New* - BC Hydro will be changing the main transmission line poles above the area called "Neat and Cool". Work is set to begin the morning of Monday May 12, 2014.

It will take three days to complete the first stage, which will involve drilling and blasting holes for the new poles. Hydro will be back later in the year to set the poles and string the wire, and will notify the District prior to that work.

The District will endeavour to communicate BC Hydro work plans to the community as soon as we can confirm the information.

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BC Hydro continues to conduct ‘Right of Way’ vegetation clearing in the vicinity of the Hunter Trail, Clarke Drive, and Behrner Drive and will continue the work until mid-June. The work is part of BC Hydro’s routine maintenance program and is taking place on their Right of Way. Hydro crews are working at the south end of Smoke Bluff Trail and will continue moving south over the coming weeks.

The BC Hydro maintenance work is being undertaken to ensure public safety and to maintain the reliability of electrical service to their customers.

While BC Hydro does not require District approvals or permits to do work inside their Right of Way, they do work with the District’s Engineering Department and Environmental Coordinator to minimize impacts to local trails and residents where possible.

In this case, the District did also request that BC Hydro complete this work to complement a planned upcoming District capital works project that is scheduled for this summer. This project involves the installation of a new water line connecting Valleycliffe to Downtown through the Northridge Gully, and is part of an approved five-year District infrastructure upgrade plan. The new line will replace a water line that is well past its intended lifespan, and is a redundant water supply to Downtown.

Full details of this water line project was communicated to neighbours on May 1^st. The project is expected to get underway mid-June and District communications efforts, including a public open house on May 15 and detailed information shared via the District’s website and on-site project boards, are rolling out over the next week.

In response to several questions from neighbouring residents,  the District confirms that neither the BC Hydro work or the water line project are in any way related to the proposed Kingswood/Scott Crescent development proposal, which remains under review by the District of Squamish.

In response to concerns around the timing of the BC Hydro work with regards to bird nesting season, it is the District’s understanding that BC Hydro is responsible for abiding by the provincial Wildlife Act, which is the piece of legislation that regulates disturbance to active bird nests, and any nest of a migratory bird (active or not).

May 1, 2014