The Board of the RDOS says the Government of BC can proceed with an access road off Tucelnuit Drive to provide emergency access to the 378 unit Okanagan Correctional Centre at Oliver.

The local area planning committee of Area C RDOS had been asked to comment on the proposal for a road at Campsite Rd (access to park). The planning committee didn’t like the idea and wanted the access road to go around environmentally sensitive park land.

The RDOS did not accept that argument and favoured a road that was short and direct with the least impact (asphalt pavement footprint). The site is 23 acres in total to the south of Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery.

Government spokesman Stacy McGee indicated that the next part of the process is to acquire a contractor, agree on a price and then proceed. – Shovel in the ground spring of 2014 and completion fall of 2016. Treasury Board approval was given last fall and a Request for tender has resulted in a number of quality P3 contractors interested in building and maintaining the facility.

Most likely government at all levels will hold a public meeting on the prison this spring. No details yet announced.