Photo: Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative

Rock scaling is underway with construction to follow soon after at the N end of the ORT.

With construction work about to start at the northern end of the Okanagan Rail Trail, politicians have started talking about the basics, including toilets, garbage bins and access points, while one Vernon councillor warned the committee not to get bogged down on minor details.

A rail trail 'vision session' among members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee began with a half hour discussion on whether established toilets or porta potties should be placed in areas along the trail for hikers and bikers.

Electoral area C director Mike Macnabb urged the committee to start small, get public input and then reconsider the matter.

As discussion continued, Macnabb questioned costs and efforts for the 48-kilometre trail between Coldstream and Kelowna.

“Somehow we've identified this as a special trail. It's a trail,” Macnabb stressed. “What are we trying to accomplish here, that this is a really unique trail?”

“Yes,” GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham bluntly replied. “It's not like any other. This, I believe, is going to be a world-class amenity.”

"This started as a visionary (session) for the ORT," reminded Vernon councillor Catherine Lord. She stood up and urged the committee to come up with a comprehensive plan to "move forward in a logical way.”

Construction of the trail has begun quicker than anticipated and some politicians fear being caught flat-footed.

“Thousands of people (will) use it, compared to the Grey Canal trail,” said Vernon director Akbal Mund. “The point is to get this trail up and running next year and I think that's the public perception too.”

Coldstream director Doug Dirk's call for the establishment of a separate advisory committee that would include user groups, including Ribbons of Green and the North Okanagan Naturalists Club, to provide input was overruled.

Instead, the committee approved a motion to have staff report back on 2018 budget options that would provide basic amenities for the protection of the trail.