Monday, September 8, 2008

Readers write -- GVSC's plans for Kalavista boat lunch.

Hello All,

I thought you would find the attached document which outlines Coldstream's and the GVS's future plans for Kalavista Drive interesting.

I have read with interest nearly all of the emails which you have exchanged between each other over the past few months. Put simply what we are attempting to create with the two societies is the following:

1. An environmentally sustainable recreational alternative for people to enjoy the lake. (I.e. Kayaks and Canoes as opposed to only power boats.)

2. A research and best practice based society which focuses on public education and protection of the lake and our drinking water supply.

Clearly, the latest GVS plans to yet again expand the boat launch parking fly in the face of the Official Community Plan, protection of the water supply and all common sense.

The last time the parking lot was expanded by the GVS Christine and I personally lead the public relations and legal battle. We invested over 80,000 dollars fighting the battle and as well invested hundreds of hours of our time under a great deal of stress.

In addition, when the Log House came up for sell last year Christine and I feared that a similar development would happen again and, therefore, to protect the neighborhood which our children are growing up in we purchased the Log House.

It appears from the proposal that the GVS is again attempting to outsmart the neighborhood by removing the tennis courts for more parking beside the lagoon. We all know what this will mean in terms of traffic and boats on the north end of the lake.

To Colleen I would offer the following feedback:

1. We have had the Ministry of the Environment, the Green Party, the Coldstream Rate Payers, Okanagan College, a registered biologist and a leading wetlands expert ALL express their strong support for the establishment of the two societies and for their location at the Log House.

2. Al McNiven, as head of parks, is the main person driving all the efforts to expand the boat launch and associate parking. Hence, your letter to him asking him to protect the environment is (to be very polite) inappropriate.

3. I admire your energy and effort. However, I suggest to you that it would be better focused on holding back the rapid expansion of the parking lots, the boat launch and the ruin of our lake with again more boats, more seadoes and more trucks with trailers parking beside the lagoon.

To Mary I would say that the only significant point which your steering committee conceded in the last battle was to provide for the protection of the front of the Log House property. Is the promise that you gave to the over 600 people who signed the petition against the expansion of the boat launch still valid?

Will you honor your commitments and promises Mary?

To the rest of the neighbors, I would like to thank those of you who support the idea of establishing an environmentally sustainable club and to working together to find common goals and solutions.

I would strongly suggest to all of you that now is exactly the time when we must be united in our vision to protect the lake.

Regards,

Jim Cookson
Ph: 250 558 7622

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The opinions expressed by "Coldstreamer" are strictly his own and do not represent the opinions of Coldstream Council!

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Gyula Kiss
coldstreamer@shaw.ca;

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About Me

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I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.