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Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Drivers decry removal of web cam from Hill 60 LEXI BAINAS CITIZEN
Dressed like snowmen, the kids of Div. 9 delight the crowd in Alex Aitken Elementary gym during the school’s show, The Twelve Days of Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 18. For more photos and video from the show, scan this image with the Layar app on your smart phone or go to www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com [LEXI BAINAS/CITIZEN]
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“The Cowichan HighwayCam on Hwy 18 is currently unavailable. The webcam is in the process of being moved to another location in the area. Stay tuned!” The Cowichan Lake area erupted with comments Thursday morning when people learned of this message on the DriveBC website. There was a skiff of snow on the ground and the forecast of more later that day and the next, and for many Lakers, that means a check of the Hill 60 webcam. But this time, there was nothing to see. Posting the situation on Facebook and querying why it would be moved during snow season quickly drew replies. Lake Cowichan’s Elizabeth McGonigle suggested that possibly the Pacific Marine Circle Route junction seemed to be up for consideration but she followed that idea with the words: “Great choice????? NOT.” Tara Daly had another point. “Rumour has it that before they said they were moving it, they said it was out because there was no POWER. Was there power there when they put it in? Logic!” she commented. There is another highway camera on Highway 18 but it’s located
at Skutz Falls and west Cowichan residents feel two are still needed. Mesachie Lake’s Nick Sohye said, “It makes no sense to move it from Hill 60.” Lake Cowichan town councillor Jayne Ingram said, “I think the Hill 60 site is a better site as the weather can be very different there then at Skutz. For example it can be clear and wet on the roads at Skutz but Hill 60 could be getting snow.” Jessica North O’Connell agreed. “There are at least six micro-climates between Highway 1 and Lake Cowichan! Never a dull moment. And, yes, they had all summer to move that cam,” she said. Asked for answers, Lisanne Bowness, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, said, “Mainroad South Island Contracting owns and maintains the Highway 18 webcam, which had been running on solar power and a weak cellular signal since it was installed nine years ago, causing reliability issues. “The camera at this site was older technology and Mainroad had identified it for upgrading. See New location • page 4
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