A review of Greater Vernon's master water plan has reaffirmed the current direction.
An 18 member stakeholders advisory committee (SAC) made up of a cross
section of water users, held 11 meetings since last fall, to review
technical information and options.
SAC Committee chairperson Jim Garlick says the main conclusion is the
current system with two water sources and two treatment facilities, is
the best option.
"Rather than going to one source, and saying Kal Lake, Duteau Creek
or Okanagan Lake be our sole source alone, and one treatment plant, the
idea is to have redundancy, That that is important to the plan."
Coldstream councillor Gyula Kiss -- who supported using Duteau Creek
just for farming water -- felt the committee eliminated any chance
of opposing views.
"First of all, they wouldn't allow me to get on the committee, and in
order to get intelligent questions, one has to have an idea of what's
in the plan. Any input from an opposing view was totally eliminated. We
had a bunch of people that were only indoctrinated by staff and the
consultants," Kiss tells Kiss FM.
Garlick, who is Coldstream's mayor, says trying to avoid that perception was a major focus.
"Efforts were made to say, 'Here's the information, take it for your
own consideration, and come up with your own conclusions,'" says
Garlick.
The advisory panel will be making 16 recommendations to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.
Garlick says one change could be in the way future water projects are paid for.
"Looking at our reserves, looking at how much we're taking in at the
rates we have now, and what we'll be able to do with that. The good
thing about the process is we've had a chance to look at it in more
detail, rather than, here's a plan, let's borrow a bunch of money in
order to start it."
Garlick says projects could be undertaken in smaller amounts, then be reassessed, followed by more projects as needed.
The SAC will hold its final meeting May 19.
The review was sparked after Greater Vernon voters rejected a $70 million referendum for six water projects in 2014
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1 comment:
Another well-meaning committee, unfortunately lacking in the necessary technical skills to arrive at the best solution. Refusal to bring in outside 3rd party technical expertise to educate the group robs this result of credibility and suggests the outcome, status quo, was predetermined by staff and our political masters. As our water rates continue to rise beyond those of our valley neighbours, prepare for a sputtering economy and fewer new arrivals; water costs play a huge role in a retiree's consideration of where to locate in the Okanagan.....Vernon will remain a big loser!
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