By ROY WOOD

A concept plan for a half-million-dollar pier at Gyro Beach was unveiled Tuesday, as part of a public consultation about what the facility will eventually look like.

Ed Grifone of Kelowna-based CTQ Consultants explained to a dozen or so members of the public at the Sonora Centre in Osoyoos that the broad general characteristics of the pier came from the town’s Waterfront Steering Committee and his group narrowed the options down to Tuesday’s presentation.

One of the instructions from the committee was “to make these structures bulletproof,” he said, “So they will stand up to weather and abuse.”

The pier as envisioned by CTQ is about 57 metres long and five metres wide and anchored into the lake by steel pilings.

The surface is made of wood or composite material and has a gazebo-like structure at the water end. There is a day-use boat moorage on the lake side, for pleasure boats and possibly water taxis from N’k Mip Resort across the lake.

The concept plan includes a water-play swimming area as well as wheelchair access to the water.

The pier begins on the eastern-most point of Gyro Park and extends southward into the lake. In that orientation, the pier would be clearly in the sight line looking east down Main Street.

The pier would connect to the rest of the park via a walkway going around the volleyball courts and beside the bowling green.

Part of the session involved having attendees fill out a survey form indicating their preferences on various aspects of the design: wood or composite surface; type of handrails and lighting; jumping tower, zip line or something else in the swimming area; and should the design include public art.

Grifone said CTQ will continue to refine the design and wants to keep receiving public input leading up to the presentation of a final concept to town council.

As for what happens next, Osoyoos planning and development director Alain Cunningham said if there is money available the project would likely proceed to a detailed drawings stage next year, with construction possibly beginning in 2017.

Mayor Sue McKortoff said money for the pier would come from the annual resort municipalities funding program.

Osoyoos is one of 14 municipalities that receive such funding, aimed at increasing resort and visitor activities and amenities. This year the town’s allocation from the fund was about $400,000.

Grifone estimated the cost of the plan as conceived at a little over $500,000 for the pier only and the eventual total cost at between $600,000 and $700,000.

He said it would be possible to “phase in” some aspects of the design.