The Regional District of Central Okanagan has thrown its support behind an application for a sand and gravel pit in the Okanagan West Electoral Area.

The application, put forward by Burnco Rock Products, is for a gravel pit on a 120 hectare site on Crown Land along the Bear Creek Forest Service Road.

The application is for a 10 year lease.

The proposed site is partly within the Agricultural Land Reserve, Lambly Creek Community Watershed, Tree Farm License 49 and Bear Creek Motorized Recreation Resource Management Zone.

Regional District Communications Director, Bruce Smith, says the Board gave conditional approval with many reservations.

"There was a fairly lengthy list of conditions. Compliance with recommendations from Lakeview Irrigation and compliance with recommendations or requirements from Interior Health regarding the Hydrology and Sediment Control Review," says Smith.

"It wasn't an outright support. It was support contingent on the applicant adhering to a number of concerns."

Smith says Burnco also has to deal with the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Forests and Tolko because upgrades may need to be made to Bear Creek Forest Service Road.

As for concerns the gravel pit is within the watershed, Smith says the applicant assured the Board the pit would be across the road from any creeks and streams and measures would be taken to protect the watershed.

Smith adds this is the largest gravel extraction application the board has ever given approval to.

"The Board has always recognized they can't just say no all the time, that there is a responsibility to find and identify proper locations (for gravel pits). The Board felt with the conditions that have been attached to it that they would like to see dealt with before any approval is given, that this was an appropriate application."