WHEREAS the Ministry of Transportation has significantly reduced its budget for the mowing and brushing of its highway corridors, leading to highway corridors which look unsightly and leave a lasting poor impression on visitors to our province; AND WHEREAS despite being characterized as an aesthetic concern by former Transportation Minister Judith Reid, brush and high grass are a safety concern in the following respects: a Brush and high grass attract and hide wildlife along highway corridors leading to increased animalvehicle accidents; b Fuel build-up in highway corridors increases the risk of interface fires in our communities; and c Tall grass and brush along highway corridors can increase the risk of vehicle or human-caused wildfires: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities call upon the provincial government to immediately restore funding for brushing and mowing of all British Columbias highway corridors.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION The ministry has reinstated selective area mowing throughout the province. During 200203 aesthetic mowing of highway rights-of-way was eliminated in an effort to save one million dollars per year. Many british columbia communities, however, expressed concerns about the appearance of the rights-of-ways to tourists and residents. Fire departments raised safety concerns that the mowing levels created a fire hazard by allowing grass to dry and grow too long The ministry reviewed its mowing policy and, in addition to mowing currently undertaken for safety reasons and for the control of noxious weeds, has been providing increased levels of aesthetic mowing for the 2004 growing season The ministry initiated consultations with municipalities and regional governments to determine communitys aesthetic mowing priorities and establish a baseline level of service. Treatments will be provided according to this baseline, up to two times per year. In conclusion, Government recognizes that municipalities value the appearance of highways in their communities and, therefore, the ministry has restored virtually all of its mowing program this year. Government will continue to sponsor the Adopt-a-Highway program and use that program where it can to provide further care for provincial highways in municipalities.