Over 100 persons attended an RDOS public meeting designed to seek reaction to a plan for the “South Spur” of a new KVR lands South Okanagan Trail from Road 22 to near the town boundaries on Sawmill Road.

The crowd of farmers and environmentalists each with a point of view expressed their ideas clearly:

“We like the existing hike and bike trail on the river channel and believe it should be enhanced. We will support you”

“We don’t want a parallel bike and walk trail next to farmland and that property should be offered for purchase to adjacent property owners.”

“Oliver needs economic development and tourists bring money to the area – we must provided more places to bike and walk”

“There are many species that needed to be protected – how is the best way to so that?”

Justin Shuttleworth*, Parks Manager for RDOS led the presentation with Area C Director Terry Schafer offering information on other parts of the Okanagan Trail system – Schafer said the Penticton to Naramata trail faced opposition in the beginning but is accepted now.

Former Director Alan Patton says he thinks getting tenure from the province is necessary to preserve the transportation corridor but there is no rush on any trail next to farmland.

Shuttleworth said 169 letters to property owners went out and 40 onsite meetings have been held with those people with concerns.

Farmers talked to issues of increased crime adjacent to their property – access for motorized vehicles, contamination of crops and farm audit failures if more people/dogs allowed access to the main part of orchard land.

Shuttleworth was unclear on just what this would all cost – his direction from the RDOS board is to get tenure (use of the land in a lease) from the BC Government.

Rick Machial summed it up best. The Town of Oliver has tenure on the Okanagan River dike so more work is needed to get the same permissions so that the path near the river can go through to the head of Osoyoos Lake.

We are in favour of that and will support the RDOS. But he warned the present plan appears to be “you have made up your minds”. “People don’t want it.” said another.

Machial stated: “Don’t characterize this meeting as a “them and us” – we all want more tourism and an expanded hike and bike system – just not the location as proposed.

Greg Norton who said he chaired the Agriculture Area Plan in the past said that document was quite clear:
discourage the use of trails through farmland and expressed support for the International Hike and Bike Trail.

Frank Barnay who has an apiary on the west side of the KVR on Sawmill Rd said the plan is ludicrous and he will seek to acquire the former rail bed.

Dave Evans says the KVR has to cross too many roads, a sensitive swamp at Rd 6 and Testalinda Creek.