Residents of the Thetis Vale neighbourhood in View Royal, directly abutting Highway 1 on the south and flanking Six Mile Road on the east and the west, are looking for your support to bring in a sound barrier or other noise mitigation options between their community and Highway 1 (see attached image).

 

 

 

This neighbourhood of over 500 people is experiencing increased traffic noise from the growing community of the Westshore and increased traffic along Highway 1 into and out of the Capital Region. This traffic comes within 50 meters of homes in Thetis Vale and there are currently zero noise mitigation mechanisms in place to help buffer the noise, which have numerous health impacts on residents.

The Government of Canada and Health Canada indicate that environmental noise can have the following adverse health effects:

• annoyance;
• interference with communication;
• disturbance of rest, sleep, and concentration; or
• hearing damage

Research also suggests that the effects named above may cause increased stress on the body, resulting in an increase in the risk of developing stress-related illnesses. (Citation: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/noise-your-health.html#a1).

Stress-related illnesses have a significant impact on an individual's physical and mental health. 

Signatories to the petition will have their signatures presented to Esquimalt - Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean and will request that the House urge the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to meet with our local MLA Mitzi Dean, Mayor and Council for the Town of View Royal, and residents to discuss possible solutions to mitigate against the effect the increased noise has on the neighbouring communities and their residents.

The petition presented to MLA Mitzi Dean, for submission to the House, will be as follows:

To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:

The petition of the undersigned, residents of the Town of View Royal states that:

Because of the increase in traffic along the Trans-Canada Highway through the neighbourhood of Thetis Vale,

Because the increase in traffic noise potentially affects more than 500 residents who are in neighbourhoods adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway; and

Because to date, with an increase in housing development along the Trans-Canada Highway Corridor, no soundproofing barrier has been created.

Your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House urge the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to meet with our local MLA Mitzi Dean, the Mayor and Council for the Town of View Royal, and residents to discuss possible solutions to mitigate the effect the increased noise has on the neighbouring communities and their residents.

Dated 8th day of November, 2022.