Thank you to G.D. Maxwell and Braden Dupuis for their attention to the White Gold “beautification” project. Your articles have outlined the financial expense and divisive social costs that will affect the neighbourhood of White Gold should the undergrounding of the utility lines proceed. However, what the articles have missed is the fact that should the project go over budget (as budgets do), the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), a.k.a. all of us, will be on the hook for footing the bill. Now it translates to a Whistler problem—not just a White Gold problem.
RMOW general manager of infrastructure services James Hallisey clearly stated at the March 16 council meeting that the RMOW can only recover up to $5.5 million from White Gold homeowners and any costs in excess will be at risk for RMOW and all of Whistler’s taxpayers.
Though currently out for tender, the final cost is still a “black hole” (thanks Max). The latest rough estimate is $7.5 million—a whopping $2 million over the petition value. Mayor Jack Crompton also clarified that the RMOW was/is not bound to approve the project based on the outcome of the Local Area Petition, but council did so based on the process being the only way neighbourhoods can “get things done.” (Thank you to Councillors Jen Ford and Cathy Jewett for the nay votes).
Now, those who voted no on the petition, just less than half the neighbourhood, could be forced to endure two years of heavy construction and pay for a beautification project they either cannot afford or simply do not believe in.
Though there are many homeowners in White Gold to whom a $40,000 to $50,000 bill for an aesthetic project is insignificant, there are many others to whom it is insurmountable. And let’s not pretend tax deferral is a get- out-of-debt-jail-free card. I am 100-per-cent certain that should the project run over the $5.5-million petition threshold, the rest of Whistler’s taxpayers will be less than thrilled to fork out money so we White Golders don’t have to look at our utility lines.
My hope is that council will terminate this project when the final budget is in, cease spending more public funds on the planning phase and focus on their many ongoing initiatives that provide value for the community at large. I vote we let BC Hydro bury the lines at their cost if/when the current system reaches its best before date—and meanwhile focus our eyes on the perching birds and the mountains instead!
