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Penticton  

Summerland in uproar after province approves gravel mine in Garnet Valley

Dismayed with pit approval

Summerland is calling on the provincial government to overturn the approval of a gravel pit in Garnet Valley.

In a news release Friday, the District of Summerland said it is asking for the minister of mines to overturn the decision to approve the gravel pit "in a highly sensitive habitat area at the end of Garnet Valley within the District’s municipal boundaries."

Mayor Doug Holmes has requested a meeting with the minister next month at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention.

“Garnet Valley is known for its sensitive ecosystems, agriculture, agri-tourism and recreational values. Those of us who live in Summerland know this is the wrong place for a gravel pit. Given that the decision was made rashly with such disregard for the community’s wishes, we are appealing to the Minister to overturn it," Holmes said in the release.

In January, concerns from District of Summerland staff were expressed to council, including environmental impacts, traffic, geotechnical stability, landslides, and impacts to existing district infrastructure. Many of these concerns are shared by members of the Garnet Valley Agritourism Association.

The BC Wildlife Federation also came out strongly against the mine in a public letter a few days later.

Council voted for the district to send a letter to the ministry the next week, strongly recommending refusal of the application to open the gravel pit. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) also submitted a referral recommending refusal.

"These referrals were validated by a growing chorus of concerned community groups and residents who wrote to council and the province asking that the proposal be denied," the district added on Friday.

"However, despite the community concerns and a surplus of gravel in the vicinity, the decision was made by provincial regulators to approve the pit."

The ministry says they received 341 written responses regarding the proposed sand and gravel mine site.

While all concerns were "reviewed and were considered," on July 9, a decision was made on the application for 27600 Garnet Valley Road and a permit for the gravel pit was granted.

"The permittee is now allowed to act on the authorization within the limits of the permit conditions," the ministry said in an email.

The ministry says the gravel pit has plans in place for many of the concerns such as sediment runoff and erosion.

The letter that Mayor Holmes has sent to the minister can be found online here.



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