Email from Michael Galbraith Re: Township of View Royal Boulevard Garden Beds and Grass Boulevards
Resident correspondence expressing concern over the poor maintenance of boulevards and garden beds on Helmcken Road and Old Island Highway.
Township of View Royal Boulevard Garden Beds and Grass Boulevards
From: Michael Galbraith Sent: July 25, 2025 7:50 AM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca
Dear Mayor and Council,
I wish to voice my concern over the recent lack of maintenance to the above noted area’s that lie within the Township’s boundaries. The flower beds are all full of weeds and overgrown especially the beds on Old Island Hwy near the Township Hall.
Recently I had the opportunity to speak with a representative of RLC in person whilst he was performing repairs to the underground sprinkling system along Helmcken Road. He informed me that they had just won a 6 month temporary contract for the Township’s maintenance of garden beds and lawns. He indicated that Victoria had apparently walked away from their contract in May and that RLC’s contract started on July 1, 2025.
I haven’t been able to confirm is this is true and maybe you folks can enlighten me. Right now the lawn along Helmcken Road is browning and in some spots won’t come back until the fall rains. The flower beds especially on Island Hwy near the Township Hall are looking like a jungle with weeds higher than the bushes planted in them. The centre median on the Island Hwy where it changes to what is commonly referred to the Colwood Strip has grass and weeds that are tinder dry and it would only take a lighted cigarette butt to start a grass fire.
I have been a resident of View Royal for almost 12 years and have never seen our community look so deplorable as it does now. I would hope that if the alleged facts I have learned are true that the Township will be taking civil action against Victoria Contracting for breach of contract.
I appreciate that labour costs are probably at their highest these days but the Township did recently increase property taxes and I would hope that these maintenance costs would have been reflected in that increase.
I have noticed in my travels in the greater Victoria area that the District of Saanich boulevards are looking just as overrun as View Royal’s and being as the Greater Victoria area attracts a large tourist base and I would hate to see them leave and say what a run down Township View Royal is. View residents are proud of their community and I would hate for them to lose this pride.
Look forward to hearing back from you folks on my concerns.
Mike Galbraith 227 Helmcken Road. View Royal, BC V9B 1S5
Sent from my iPad