General Infrastructure Discussion - Page 16

FarmerHaight · #**301** Posted **Mar 1, 2023, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://globalnews.ca/news/9515907/vancouver-explosion-jj-bean/

I work in MNP Tower (connected to the Marine Building) and was at work when the explosion happened.

Everyone at my company is absolutely devastated that they have to put on a jacket to go to a coffee shop now

officedweller · #**302** Posted **Mar 4, 2023, 4:28 AM**

$250 million in provincial funding for new Iona sewage treatment plant
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/iona-island-wastewater-treatment-plant-sewage-bc-government-funding

officedweller · #**303** Posted **Mar 6, 2023, 10:34 PM**

62 power poles in Yaletown are being permanently removed
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-hydro-yaletown-vancouver-pole-removal

Map of the BC Hydro poles that will be removed in March 2023. (BC Hydro)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-hydro-yaletown-vancouver-pole-removal

Pic by me today:

madog222 · #**304** Posted **Apr 7, 2023, 8:12 AM**

Quote:

Province makes it easier for stratas to greenlight EV charging stations

The proposed amendments to the Strata Property Act, introduced on Thursday, April 6, 2023, will improve access to EV charging stations in residential strata buildings by:

Lowering the voting threshold from 75% to 50% approval for expenditures and changes to common and personal property that are needed to install EV charging stations;
Requiring strata corporations to obtain an electrical planning report to help understand the building’s electrical capacity and plan for the expansion of EV charging stations; and
Requiring strata corporations to approve owners’ requests to install EV charging stations at the owners’ expense, when reasonable criteria are met.

...

The Province has introduced several initiatives to encourage people to purchase electric vehicles, including the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate program and a provincial sales tax exemption on used EVs. As a result of these initiatives, the number of EVs on B.C.’s roads has increased from 5,000 in 2016 to more than 109,000 as of December 2022.

https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2020-2024/2023HOUS0019-000465.htm

flipper316 · #**305** Posted **Apr 19, 2023, 7:43 AM**

https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/surrey-council-to-consider-bear-creek-park-improvements/

Sheba · #**306** Posted **Apr 19, 2023, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper316

https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/surrey-council-to-consider-bear-creek-park-improvements/

Surrey council endorses ‘next steps for improvements’ to Bear Creek Park

Council was asked to endorse work with respect to environmental wetland, invasive species removal and replanting, parking expansion, walking trails, public seating, dog off-leash areas, public art

Changing City · #**307** Posted **Apr 22, 2023, 5:55 PM**

Related to the Steam plant decarbonisation, the Federal government confirmed their financial support for the new electric steam boilers and high voltage cable from Murrin Substation on Main to Beatty Street.

fredinno · #**308** Posted **Apr 22, 2023, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba

Surrey council endorses ‘next steps for improvements’ to Bear Creek Park

Council was asked to endorse work with respect to environmental wetland, invasive species removal and replanting, parking expansion, walking trails, public seating, dog off-leash areas, public art

Remember when Surrey built that Road through Hawthrone Park?

Does anyone actually use that thing?

Lexus · #**309** Posted **Apr 22, 2023, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredinno

Remember when Surrey built that Road through Hawthrone Park?

Does anyone actually use that thing?

Literally used it today. Nice bike lane! Like many other new bike lanes in Surrey, well made project.

jollyburger · #**310** Posted **Jun 23, 2023, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

BC Hydro has completed its investigation into the cause of an underground electrical vault fire and explosion that happened in downtown Vancouver in February, and is taking several immediate actions to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

On Feb. 24, 2023, a fire and explosion occurred in an underground vault on Burrard Street near West Cordova Street. The incident injured two members of the public and damaged nearby businesses.

To review the incident, BC Hydro retained a third-party expert whose investigation determined the fire and explosion were caused by a build-up of combustible gases from a leaking gasket in the lid of an oil-filled switch. The leak was caused by the use of incompatible materials when the gasket was repaired and maintained over time.

While reviewing documentation for this specific equipment as part of the investigation, it was also discovered that serious risks had been previously identified. In 2016, BC Hydro conducted an assessment of underground street vaults. It found 14 vaults, including the vault on Burrard Street, were classified as being a high risk to the public in the event of a failure. The assessment warned if the vaults were not properly maintained or replaced, the result could be severe injury or death. It recommended replacing equipment in the Burrard Street vault by 2018.

BC Hydro moved forward to replace the equipment in the vaults, but the Burrard Street vault was removed from the immediate project scope in favour of replacing the equipment in another vault in Gastown. The expectation was the Burrard Street vault would undergo maintenance; however, crews had difficulties performing the maintenance despite their best efforts because they did not have the proper information and instructions or the correct material to complete the work.

“I sincerely apologize to the individuals and businesses that were affected, as well as to those who live or work nearby and our employees. We let you down and this should have never happened,” says Chris O’Riley, President and CEO of BC Hydro. “Public and worker safety is our top priority. While I recognize that this incident does not reflect that, I am personally committed – along with the entire team at BC Hydro – to ensuring that safety comes first every day.”

In response to this incident and the results of the investigation, BC Hydro is taking several immediate actions:

Underground vaults with oil-filled equipment that were identified as risks in 2016 have been decommissioned and no longer present a risk.
A program review of other distribution street vault equipment is underway and will involve an independent third-party expert. The first phase will be complete by the end of the summer and the second phase complete by March 2024.
BC Hydro is engaging fully and transparently with its regulators, including WorkSafeBC and the British Columbia Utilities Commission, and will share learnings with other utilities.
Over the past decade, BC Hydro has invested approximately $195 million towards improving the downtown Vancouver electrical infrastructure, including the installation of new feeders, voltage conversions, and replacing end-of-life equipment. BC Hydro will work diligently to ensure its system continues to operate safely and reliably, taking proactive measures wherever necessary.

https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2023/downtown-vault-investigation.html

Tvisforme · #**311** Posted **Jun 23, 2023, 2:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2023/downtown-vault-investigation.html

Kinda nice to have a big organization say "We messed up, we're sorry" without the usual fluff to try to make it seem as if it is someone else's fault.

aberdeen5698 · #**312** Posted **Jun 23, 2023, 1:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

Kinda nice to have a big organization say "We messed up, we're sorry" without the usual fluff to try to make it seem as if it is someone else's fault.

Totally agree.

SFUVancouver · #**313** Posted **Jun 23, 2023, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

Kinda nice to have a big organization say "We messed up, we're sorry" without the usual fluff to try to make it seem as if it is someone else's fault.

People are just desperate for honesty and transparency. Nobody actually expects perfection from themselves, their colleagues, or society writ large. We do expect that certain life safety-critical activities, such as flying, maintaining our electrical power grid, and the dispensing of an appropriate amount of butter on movie theatre popcorn, will strive for perfection. When they fall short, we want the truth and information what will be done to lower the risk of reoccurrence in the future.

fredinno · #**314** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 7:44 AM**

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/semiahmo...nic-waste-facility-renewable-natural-gas

Quote:

The Semiahmoo First Nation is partnering with Andion Global to build an organic waste recycling facility on its reserve in South Surrey.

...
This is the First Nation’s first major economic development project on their reserve, which is located on the Boundary Bay waterfront, just east of White Rock.

I would point out that the mouth of the Campbell River is on the Semiahmoo Reserve.
If they're going to start developing their land, some land should be transferred from the nearby Golf Courses and ALR to allow the preservation of the Campbell River as a park.

Changing City · #**315** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredinno

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/semiahmo...nic-waste-facility-renewable-natural-gas

I would point out that the mouth of the Campbell River is on the Semiahmoo Reserve.
If they're going to start developing their land, some land should be transferred from the nearby Golf Courses and ALR to allow the preservation of the Campbell River as a park.

There's no mechanism to change an Indian Reserve boundary. If they want to develop on their land, they can do so. The natural gas from organic waste plant seems like a great project.

Jimbo604 · #**316** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 3:32 PM**

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/43...-on-final-section-of-Okanagan-Rail-Trail Castanet: Cindy White - Jun 6, 2023 / 4:00 am

Indigenous Services Canada told Castanet that it is working with OKIB and CN Rail to have a former railway line returned to Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7 through the federal government’s Additions to Reserve (ATR) process.

“The proposed lands are currently held by the Canadian National Railway Company and will be transferred to Canada once all steps of the ATR process have been satisfied,” said Carolane Gratton, media relations officer at Indigenous Services Canada.

Changing City · #**317** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 3:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/43...-on-final-section-of-Okanagan-Rail-Trail Castanet: Cindy White - Jun 6, 2023 / 4:00 am

Indigenous Services Canada told Castanet that it is working with OKIB and CN Rail to have a former railway line returned to Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7 through the federal government’s Additions to Reserve (ATR) process.

“The proposed lands are currently held by the Canadian National Railway Company and will be transferred to Canada once all steps of the ATR process have been satisfied,” said Carolane Gratton, media relations officer at Indigenous Services Canada.

Yes, they can be expanded. There's no mechanism to take any land away to turn an area into a park.

fredinno · #**318** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

Yes, they can be expanded. There's no mechanism to take any land away to turn an area into a park.

The land doesn't need to be taken away- you can just preserve the land within the reserve as a regional park so it can't be developed.

chowhou · #**319** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

Yes, they can be expanded. There's no mechanism to take any land away to turn an area into a park.

Unless the Indian Act has changed recently, and I'm pretty sure it's been untouchable for decades, land has been removed from reserves legally time and time again. There's clearly a mechanism for it, it's just not politically viable in today's climate.

Changing City · #**320** Posted **Jun 30, 2023, 7:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredinno

The land doesn't need to be taken away- you can just preserve the land within the reserve as a regional park so it can't be developed.

Who is 'you' who can preserve the land as a park? I certainly can't! Neither can you.

If the Semiahmoo first nation wanted to share it as a park, they could, but that seems unlikely, given the history of how they've been treated in the recent past. They had a boil-water for 16 years because of the poor condition of their water system. White Rock stopped the clean water supply, and it took years to connect through Surrey instead, although now they have a replaced supply and new pipes.

In 2014 the band had to spend a lot of money in cleaning up more than half the reserve that from 1942 to 1996 was leased by the band to the Municipality of Surrey for recreational "parkland" purposes. The City of White Rock and the City of Surrey both used the land, known as "Semiahmoo Park" for landfill, leaving it contaminated.