Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project
This page covers the following topics:
Overview
The Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project (VITRP) was a BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC) initiative that involved replacing and upgrading the powerlines between South Delta and Vancouver Island. Construction work in Tsawwassen started on June 2, 2008 and is now complete.
The South Delta section of the route included the placement of transmission lines, along an existing right-of-way, through a residential area of Tsawwassen, in close proximity to homes, a school and parks. Issues of concern to the local community include potential health impacts from exposure to electro-magnetic fields; impacts on property values; and aesthetic concerns relating to the placement of taller towers through the community.
The project received approval from the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) in July 2006 and from the BC Environmental Assessment Office in February 2007.
In December 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada denied a leave to appeal application by the local residents group, TRAHVOL (Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines), and upheld the previous decision of the BC Court of Appeal.
In March 2008, the Provincial government reviewed the option to use horizontal directional drilling to underground the line through Tsawwassen and confirmed its decision to go overhead.
The Corporation of Delta's Involvement
In support of the Tsawwassen community, the Corporation of Delta was an active participant in both regulatory processes:
- The Corporation of Delta was represented throughout the year-long BCUC public hearing process and argued against the placement of lines (overhead or underground) along the existing right-of-way through Tsawwassen. Delta is also opposed to the placement of lines beneath municipal roadways.
- Through the environmental assessment review process, Delta recommended that the project be denied on grounds that the proximity of high voltage transmission lines to residences, schools and parks pose an undetermined and, therefore, unacceptable risk to human health.
- The Corporation of Delta is supportive of the 'precautionary approach' when there is scientific uncertainty related to health impacts, and has consistently advocated for relocation of the powerlines away from residential areas to highway corridors such as Deltaport Way.
- The Corporation of Delta has incurred costs in excess of $150,000 in legal and consulting fees directly related to this issue.
See a summary of the Corporation of Delta's involvement in the VITRP from 2005-2008 - { pdf 80KB }
Contact Information
For more information, contact Bernita Iversen, Senior Policy Analyst at the Corporation of Delta by telephone at (604) 946-3257 or visit the following websites:
Some documents on this page are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader® PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader® you may download it for free by clicking on the link to the right. [ back to top ]