Spaniard’s Bay adopts infrastructure policy

By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline

During the June 9 meeting, Spaniard’s Bay council adopted an asset management and climate equity policy.

“The purpose of this asset management and climate equity policy is to affirm council’s commitment to responsible stewardship of the town’s infrastructure and to provide a coordinated, cost-effective, and sustainable framework that guards staff in managing municipal assets so they can reliably deliver the services needed today and for future residents,” explained Mayor Tammy Oliver.

Oliver went on to say that the policy aims to systematically identify, assess, and manage risks such as climate change, thereby protecting public safety, reducing municipal exposure to liability, and ensuring equitable service outcomes. The town will account for known climate hazards when designing, maintaining or replacing infrastructure, paying attention to areas that are at risk of higher exposure or could reduce adaptive capacity. Climate hazards that will be considered will include, but are not limited to, high winds, extreme precipitation, flooding, and wildfires.

“We’ve already had the assessment done of the asset management, and we’re about to receive the final report on our climate equity,” said Oliver. “So, we’re combining the two, which they do overlap, and this will allow council to re-evaluate our five-year plan moving forward in regards to our infrastructure.’

Councillor Sherry Lundrigan moved that council accept the asset management and climate equity policy. Councillor Ann Marie Singleton seconded the motion.

The motion was carried unanimously.