Crumbing infrastructure is Oak Bay priority

By a slim 4-3 margin, Oak Bay council recently decided that the regulation of secondary suites was its top priority. A main reason quoted was that “70 per cent of the official community plan survey respondents supported regulating existing secondary suites.”

In the “strategies for utilities and services” section, 76 per cent said a high priority was to replace water and sewer lines. More OCP respondents were concerned with infrastructure than suites.

In the recent community-satisfaction survey, residents were asked what is the most important issue facing the community. Thirty-one per cent stated infrastructure, while secondary suites were picked by only six per cent.

The Oak Bay 2009 Tangible Capital Asset Project describes our infrastructure: “Like other communities worldwide that were founded more than 100 years ago, a significant amount of the district’s underground infrastructure is in its latter years of service, and the needs for repair and replacement exceed the available resources. ”

Based on the project data, $3.06 million annually is needed to maintain roads and sewers. In 2015, Oak Bay spent just $1.33 million. Result: Our infrastructure is crumbling.

Any evidence-based priorities discussion would conclude that council should first focus on upgrading our aged infrastructure.

Then, in consultation with the community, begin developing a housing strategy, with knowledge of what our infrastructure can handle. Regulating secondary suites, addressing duplexes and infill are followon elements of a good housing strategy. Mike Wilmut Oak Bay