Mayor's Report - May 1999

The summer of 1998 was one "long hot summer" during which many BC communities faced the terror of wild fire It was a reminder that we too are vulnerable to fire, and that there have been two serious house fires in Belcarra within the last five years. Council has made fire protection a priority, and it is therefore timely to update the community on the various fire protection initiatives that are underway.

Our fire protection "corner stone", of course, is the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) which has provided an outstanding level of service since it started in 1977. The SVFD is debt-free, new training facilities were completed two years ago, and we are now benefiting from a long standing policy of replacing equipment and vehicles on a pay-as-you-go basis. In 1998 the SVFD acquired its newest pumper truck at a cost of $300,000 fully funded from the Equipment Replacement Reserve.

In 1998, the Village acquired a Crown Land lease located at the south (top) end of Tatlow Road, a very strategic location. Since Tatlow Road allowance runs from Main Avenue to Marine Avenue, water storage tanks located at the top-end can supply fire hydrants located at Main Avenue, Bedwell Bay Road and Marine Avenue. The recently completed Phase One of the project included site surveying, design engineering, site preparation, and installation of a 58,000-gallon storage tank connected to the first hydrant at Main Avenue. Phase Two consists of extension of the "backbone" water line down Tatlow Road to provide hydrants at Bedwell Bay Road and Marine Avenue. The design also includes "T" connections pre-installed at Main Avenue, Bedwell Bay Road and Marine Avenue to accommodate additional extensions and hydrants as desired in the future. Phase Two will be going to tender during the coming month and work should occur this summer.

Council is also pursuing the other very strategic site at the height-of-land next to the Belcarra Water Users water tanks at Dutchman's Creek. Phase One of the project includes site preparation, installation of a 58,000-gallon storage tank and the first hydrant at Belcarra Bay Road. To-date, the following steps have been completed:

• A site survey as a prerequisite to the engineering design work.
• A licence from GVRD Parks for locating the tanks on the site.
• Design and engineering for Phase One of the project.
• A cost estimate for Phase One: $150,000.

Phase One of the Dutchman's Creek project will be going to tender during the coming month and work should occur this summer. Phase Two includes acquiring the six inch pipe that was pre-installed by the Belcarra Water Users to extend hydrants along Belcarra Bay Road, and is scheduled as a project for next year.

As can be seen, the plan is for a series of projects, constructed over a period of time, that enhances the availability of water for fire protection. These improvements are important to the safety of our community, and Council is committed to these works on a pay-as-you-go basis.

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