WHEREAS the Province desires to transfer responsibility of operating and maintaining diking district assets to local government; AND WHEREAS the cost of operating and maintaining diking district assets, and the associated liabilities of operating and maintaining the assets are undefined: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Province of BC undertake a full cost, operating and condition assessment of diking district assets to determine the most appropriate and cost effective delivery of flood protection to property owners; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if local government provided flood protection is deemed to be in the best interests of property owners, the Province of BC be asked to provide adequate funding for the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the diking district assets.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations In 2003, the more than one hundred year old Drainage Ditch and Dike Act DDDA was amended to include a sunset clause now December 2012. The outdated provisions of the DDDA impact the ability of the five remaining diking districts incorporated under this Act to effectively operate and maintain their diking systems. The repeal of the DDDA will result in the transfer of diking authority responsibilities from these five local taxpayer-supported diking districts to their respective local governments Surrey, Coquitlam, Metro Vancouver and Spallumcheen. Local governments, under the Local Government Act and Community Charter, have the necessary administrative authority to provide integrated local services, including the operation and maintenance of dikes. A full cost, operating and condition assessment of diking district assets has been requested. The ministry agrees that comprehensive assessments of the diking districts should be completed prior to any transfer of diking authority responsibilities. These assessments would determine if there are significant deficiencies in the condition of the dikes and make recommendations with respect to capital projects, administration, operation and maintenance. The ministry is currently pursuing possible sources of funding to complete the assessments and rehabilitation. The ministry is committed to working with UBCM and the affected local governments on this matter.