What's next for rail trail?

Photo: Contributed - John Gallant

The District of Lake Country must decide its next move for the Okanagan rail corridor – and must do so quickly.

Following the failure of the alternative approval process, which gained just 29 more votes than needed (or 10 per cent of qualified electors), council held a special meeting Tuesday night to approve the results and plan for the future.

Or at least that’s what roughly 20 concerned residents had expected to happen when they showed up at council chambers.

The matter was dealt with in a matter of minutes, with councillors providing their thoughts on the vote. Most stated their displeasure, but many prefaced their thoughts by noting the results show residents have an opinion on the subject and are engaged by the topic, which are important things in a democracy.

But that didn't sway everyone in attendance.

“I don’t have a choice, I have to vote no. Anyone that was offered this 10 feet from their kitchen window would vote no,” says Roger Bailey, who owns property along the rail line in Oyama.

“I do not think this process is the correct way to go about it.

“They’re asking us to give them the money to buy it, before we know what’s going to happen, and I’m not really on (board) with that.”

That sentiment was echoed by resident Norm Bugera, who also opposed the purchase in the AAP.

“I think there are a lot of questions that are still left unanswered. Total project costs – I have yet to see a budget that would have been prepared as far as the actual construction costs, the real estate costs and maintenance costs.”

Both men say they attended open houses during the consultation process, but instead left with more questions than answers.

Whatever comes next must be decided quickly. The original date to have a deal completed and in place expires at the end of March, and there is much uncertainty whether or not CN Rail would be inclined to extend the deadline.

The most logical course of action for the district may now be to hold a referendum on the matter, but that could cost more than $10,000 and must take place no more than 80 days from yesterday’s AAP deadline.

Staff will now begin to look at options for the 16-kilometre stretch of land which runs through the municipality.

The district is attempting to borrow up to $2.7 million to purchase its portion of the rail line, which it says will cost taxpayers an additional $27 per year.