Area woodlot owner Bill Hadden attended the 25th Annual Federation of BC Woodlot Associations’ AGM in Fort St. John, Sept. 14-16, and says it was very interesting to see how woodlot representation has grown during the past quarter century.
Noting Fort St. John was the first meeting place for the province’s woodlot owners, Hadden says four of the nine charter members attended to share stories and experiences.
In contrast, he adds there are now 26 member associations, representing 850 licensees throughout the province.
He adds this annual general meeting was lighter on business and a little heavier on the social events.
“In the woodlot world right now, things are relatively stable. We have things we’re working on and monitoring.”
One important project for woodlot owners is the Natural Resource Road Act, which they’re monitoring because it could have significant impact on them, and all road users.
“[The government is] taking road regulations from, I believe, 11 different acts and trying to roll them into one act. They’ve been working on it for several years now.”
Hadden says the key issue is where the liability for these resource roads lays.
“If you build a road and don’t use it for 10 years and everybody else uses if for that 10 years, who pays for maintenance? If you’re not operational and a tree comes and somebody gets hurt, who is liable?”
Right now, it’s a huge grey area, he says.
As an example, Hadden says he has roads on his woodlots that he hasn’t operated on since 2006, but a lot of people have been using the road, including industrial users.
“So should I pay for maintenance? I don’t think so.”
Noting he can’t block the road, Hadden says nobody is sure who is liable if somebody gets hurt while using the road.
Hadden says the federation has worked on the development of a safety manual for woodlot operators with WorkSafe BC and the British Columbia Safety Council.
“We have one now, and it was released last week. It’s been built by the woodlot federation for the woodlot licensees.”
He says they have been working on it for several years. Items would be taken to the associations, and their input would be discussed at the directors meetings, he explains. After two years of going back-and-forth with the directors and WorkSafe BC, he says the federation has a safety manual.
“If the book is followed and you have an accident, your defence of due diligence will have been met.”
