Greater Sudbury city council went against the advice of city staff and voted at their Aug. 12 meeting in favour of spending $105,000 to cover some open concrete box ditch sections close to residential properties in Val Therese.

The ditches, which border the back of properties on Jeanne d'Arc Street and Raymond Street, are a safety hazard that may cause injuries due to potential falls and possible drownings, according to the motion presented by Ward 6 Coun. Andre Rivest.

Residents originally told city staff about their concerns at a meeting on May 29. The city agreed to erect a 1.2 metre fence around the ditches to prevent access.

However, residents say children can still climb over or under the fence, and it is aesthetically unpleasing.

City staff said in their report that there are “no funds available in the project budget for this additional work.”

“Council should be aware that there are hundreds of kilometres of drainage ditches through residential properties and the city could not afford to enclose all of them,” the Aug. 3 report stated.

Rivest's motion called for the city to “take the necessary steps” required to cover the ditches behind 939, 945, 951 Raymond Street and 936, 940, 946, 950 Jeanne d'Arc Street with precast concrete caps and have them backfilled to enclose the ditch.

The concrete ditches are roughly a metre deep, Rivest said, which, when filled with water could present a drowning threat to children.

The councillor is concerned for the safety of children who might see the sites as a “playground.”

He said he has seen toys and objects belonging to children in and around the water flowing through the ditches.