(UPDATE: Aug. 30 @ 3:25 pm ) – The Garnet Valley Agritourism Association has added its voice to the chorus of opposition to a gravel pit in Summerland's Garnet Valley.
"Outrage is growing in the community," reads the lead sentence in a news release sent out by the association.
The proposed gravel pit at 27600 Garnet Valley Road is smack dab in the middle of an agricultural area and environmentally sensitive zone.
"This decision of the (provincial mines) ministry to approve this mine (gravel pit) is destructive and unacceptable to the residents and agritourism businesses in Garnet Valley, and to the vast majority of Summerlanders," said Steve Lornie, a member of the Garnet Valley Agritourism Association and co-founder of Garnet Valley Ranch Winery and other Okanagan Crush Pad wineries Haywire, Free Form and Narrative.
"Our concerns were disregarded, despite clear evidence of the potential harm to our community, our businesses and our environment."
The association advocates for responsible development and is made up of a coalition of businesses and residents in the Garnet Valley, including Garnet Valley Winery, Solvero Wines, Grape Escape Guest Cottage, Local Motive, Oasis Lavender Farm and What the Fungus.
The association is urging concerned people to post their opposition to social media with the hashtags #StopTheGravelPit and #SaveGarnetValley.
The association also provided the emails for Premier David Eby ([email protected]) and Energy & Mines Minister Josie Osborne ([email protected]) for people to send letters of opposition.
More about the associaiton's opposition strategy here: https://garnet-valley.com/urgent-appeal
(Original story: Aug. 29 @ 2:00 pm) –Officials in Summerland are baffled.
"(Summerland) mayor and council voted against it (a gravel pit in the agricultural Garnet Valley) and yet the province approves it," said Sally Pierce, executive director of Destination Summerland and the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.
"It doesn't make sense to any of us. It's a mystery. But, what we are going to do is do everything we can to oppose this gravel pit."
Pierce goes on to say that what's lovely about Summerland is the town is surrounded by ample farmland, including all the orchards, vineyards, wineries, horse ranches and agritourism accommodations in the nearby Garnet Valley.
Back in January, both the District of Summerland and the Region District of Okanagan-Similkameen submitted letters to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation recommending refusal of the gravel pit.
The two levels of local government thought that was the end of it.
Yet, this month, the District of Summerland learned there was a pending decision by the Inspector of Mines to approve the gravel pit.
So, Summerland sprung into action once again.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes has shot off a letter to Energy and Mines Minister Josie Osborne asking the approval for the gravel pit be overturned.
"Those of us who live here know this is the wrong place for a gravel pit and there is sure to be a huge public outcry once the decision of approval is made public," said Holmes in his letter to Osborne.
"Given the decision was made rashly with such disregard for the community's self-governance, we appeal to you to please overturn it."
A letter from Destination Summerland and Summerland Chamber of Commerce president Mike Hildebrand to the minister of energy and mines pleads for the same disapproval of the gravel pit.
Hildebrand's letter to Osborne is also copied to local MLA Dan Ashton.
Hildebrand's letter also goes on to point out that Summerland is well served by two existing sand and gravel companies -- Summerland Sand and Gravel and Grizzly Excavating -- and doesn't need another gravel pit, especially in the peaceful Garnet Valley.
Mayor Holmes' letter to Osborne is also copied to two other provincial cabinet ministers -- George Heyman (Environment and Climate Change Strategy) and Anne Kang (Municipal Affairs).
Mayor Holmes' letter goes on to say that the 15.9 hectare area being considered for a gravel pit is within an Environmental Sensitive Development Permit zone and is rated highly environmentally sensitive with locally and provincially significant ecosystem and critical habitat for wildlife such as mule deer, mountain goat and bighorn sheep.
The property where the gravel pit is proposed is zoned 'forestry-grazine' and does not allow for natural resource extraction, pointed out the mayor.
The mayor is also concerned about a gravel operation impacting Eneas Creek and riparian habitat.
The mayor also doesn't want to see a gravel pit disrupt the Trail of the Okanagans hiking and biking trail that follows the historic Fur Brigade Trail from Peachland and Summerland.
"A gravel pit right in the middle of this world-class trail would create an unsafe environment for hikers and cyclists and would not meet minimum safety standards set by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's Active Transportation Design Guidelines," he said.
"The gravel pit will preclude using Garnet Valley for the Trail of the Okanagans and would effectively destroy the vision of a pan-Okanagan multi-use pathway that so many people in multiple communities have worked so hard to create."
If the province doesn't overturn its gravel pit decision by Sept. 16, Mayor Holmes is asking for a face-to-face meeting with Minister Osborne at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Vancouver Sept. 16-20 to plead his case further.
