39 property owners/farmers have signed a petition and sent it off to the Regional District Okanagan – Similkameen expressing strong objections to a proposal for what they call an ‘unnecessary and redundant’ trail south of Oliver.

The objection is to the “use of a public resource for a new trail” which to a large degree duplicates an existing hike and bike trail about 500 metres away along the Okanagan River.

The group led by orchardist David Machial says the list of objections is long:

Possible property damage, increase in liability, safety of food produced nearby, misuse of adjacent land, environmental degradation and impacts on native species and wildlife.

Previously on this file:

Area C Director Terry Schafer, RDOS CAO Bill Newell, MP Dan Albas and Area A Director Mark Pendergraft at announcement this morning of a $124,600 grant to assist in one small part of a larger master plan for connecting hike and bike paths around the north end of Osoyoos Lake and connecting with old KVR right of way.

Pendergraft, Chair of the Regional Board said the funding would help create a critical link in our regional trail system that will allow the history of Kettle Valley Railway line to be highlighted.

RDOS Parks Manager Mark Woods said that they were legal notices to adjacent property owners that the Regional District seeks to get a 9 metre wide tenure for a hike and bike trail on all land (former ROW) that have not been sold including areas with short term leases.

Director Terry Schafer said some of the orchardists and residenst nearby were a bit concerned as to what is going on.

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Information regarding the Kettle Valley Railroad (KVR) which is under review.

I am not in favor of creating a hike and bike corridor on the KVR:

Starting at Vaseux Lake (where there is no bridge)

Below the Dam it crosses the river (where there is no bridge)

After crossing it goes though a piece of Indian Reserve, and the RDOS therefore has no jurisdiction.

Closer to the Town of Oliver the grade has been turned into a Dike for the new River restoration.

In the Town the land has been ether purchased or leased.

At the end of Sawmill Road there is swamp land beside the packing house. It will destroy a valuable piece of environmental important area. Testalinden creek will have to be bridged where it can potentially interrupt flood control measures.

From Road 9 to Rd 22 the grade has been leased to farmers (ten years) where the government collects lease fees and also taxes.

Farmers do not want hike & bike trails between their lands.

The government has leased in order to preserve a transportation corridor. Some lease applications are now being processed with a fee already paid.

The track from the head of Osoyoos Lake to Osoyoos is in private hands and therefore will never covert to a hike & bike trail.

The RDOS trail proposals are not sensible and propose a high cost for development. This trail will be used only by a small percentage of our population.

New roadway needed. Is the passing lane at road 22 a part of a plan to upgrade highway 97 to 3 or 4 lanes at the cost of present farmland? The development of the KVR plans will give the highways department no choice. If a paved 2 lane road on KVR right away was developed it would provide a side road for Tractors and Equipment and Transport Trucks to stay off 97 and a way to get to Oliver’s Commercial Centre.

The present cyclists prefer to go over Road 9 Bridge to the Black Sage vineyards to enjoy the wineries and the view, then on to Road 22. Will cyclist complain when sprayed with products like fixed copper, copper sulfate, black ferbam and others? Will cyclist complain about animal’s state of health, penning and pastures and farm Dogs.

I have seen in the last decade urban concepts pressed upon this rural area costing farming finances and procedures to be burdensome to the point of ending an era of family farming which began in 1920 with the building of the Irrigation Canal.

The lands have been posted with a short time for letters of protests.

Dave Evans