City of Victoria says cleanup of encampment along Pandora Avenue cost $85,000

City of Victoria says cleanup of encampment along Pandora Avenue cost $85,000
Nicholas Pescod/CHEK News
Tents seen along Pandora Avenue in Victoria earlier this year.

The removal of a large homeless encampment on a busy street in Victoria has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

City of Victoria staff told CHEK News that it cost them $85,000 to cleanup and remove the homeless encampment along Pandora Avenue. Costs include general cleanup, restoration of grass turf, revitalization and rehabilitation of trees, irrigation, and installation of fencing.

Many of the people living in the encampment, which was mostly concentrated in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue between Cook and Quadra streets, have since been relocated into housing after the provincial government pledged to house those living in the encampment as well as one in Topaz Park earlier this year.

Cleanup efforts have been underway since late Spring, with fences being installed around grassy areas and homeless individuals being moved out.

Most of the fencing that was installed has since been removed and the tents that once dotted the street are gone. However, some fencing remains around grassy areas and other spots mostly in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue.

It’s unclear whether the $85,000 price tag includes staffing costs associated with the cleanup.

RELATED: Homeless campers on Pandora Avenue and Topaz Park moves into hotel

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