Saanich will once again be asking B.C. Hydro to justify its plan to cut hundreds of trees near Prospect Lake to make way for upgraded high-voltage power lines.
Mayor Dean Murdock plans to send a second letter to the utility asking for an update on the project, an environmental assessment, what kind of compensation Saanich and local residents will get for the loss of trees, and better collaboration with local residents.
The letter will also ask for a protocol agreement between B.C. Hydro and Saanich to formalize the relationship and ensure Saanich has the chance to provide feedback on these kinds of projects in the future.
It’s the second letter Murdock has written on the issue after residents near Prospect Lake demanded B.C. Hydro reconsider the upgrade plan, which would result in the loss of as many as 485 trees.
In the spring, Murdock asked B.C. Hydro look at alternatives that would minimize the removal of trees and to follow the tree-replacement provisions in Saanich’s bylaws.
Because B.C. Hydro is governed by the Hydro and Power Authority Act, which supersedes municipal bylaws, it is not subject to Saanich’s tree-protection bylaws, which require developers to replace trees removed for new projects.
A municipal or private project in the district would require a 3:1 replacement ratio. A goal of Saanich’s urban forest strategy is a minimum of a 1:1 replacement ratio for all tree removals.
B.C. Hydro has said the upgrade of the high-voltage power lines along Prospect Lake Road from Meadowbrook Road to Munns Road is needed to deliver reliable power as the area sees increased demand with more people moving in and more things, such as cars, running on electricity.
The utility said the single power line that currently serves the area — much of which is on private property — is no longer adequate and will be replaced with what B.C. Hydro calls a three-phase line, which can carry a higher load, and will be on the municipality’s land.
B.C. Hydro has a greening program that provides funds to communities to replant in an area as long as the plants don’t conflict with power lines.
Coun. Judy Brownoff said representatives of B.C. Hydro have agreed to walk the proposed route of the new line with Saanich staff, arborists and area residents.
Murdock called the new letter a nudge from council to get a better outcome.
“I think we’re getting there, but it’s going to require another letter and probably another several rounds of discussion to have an impact,” he said.
That better outcome would be a modified route that would preserve more trees, Murdock said.
“If we can’t get to that place, it would be replacement trees,” he said.
