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Arrow Lakes News Vol. 90 Issue 07 • Wednesday, February 13, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
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New Nakusp boat launch construction finally underway Craig Savage
Special to the Arrow Lakes News
After years of lobbying, planning and then waiting for a low water year, the new Nakusp boat launch project is finally in construction. On Feb. 4, about 50 people gathered at the Nakusp Emergency Services Building for a presentation on the imminent Nakusp Boat Ramp Replacement Project. Bill Smith of Columbia Power — the project manager for boat ramp projects in Nakusp, Anderson Point, and Edgewood — presented details on the long-anticipated replacement for the aging wooden structure. Smith announced that Landmark of Salmon Arm, B.C., has been selected as the contractor for the project, and that work would begin immediately. Mayor Karen Hamling said she was pleased with the turnout at the meeting for a project that’s been in the works for seven years with BC Hydro. “I’m happy to see it’s finally going to happen,” she said. There was some other good news as well. Although Columbia Power had made the winning bid subject to a maximum ramp closure of 49 days, Landmark proposed a solution that would shorten that window to only a few days. Their solution was a temporary ramp that would remain in service while the new concrete
ramp is being constructed. Demolition work on the old ramp and construction of the temporary one began on Feb. 5. The temporary ramp is expected to be complete by February 12. Depending on the construction schedule, there may be times of the day that the ramp is not available. Boaters are advised to refer to an information kiosk on the site, which will have information about any ramp closures and phone numbers to call with questions. Columbia Power’s portion of the presentation gave some technical details of the construction process. The current low water levels in the Arrow Lakes, which are near a 10-year low, will allow the new ramp to be built long enough to accommodate almost any foreseeable water levels. However, those low levels have come sooner than normal, which is putting pressure on the contractor to complete the project sooner than anticipated. Should this challenge to the schedule prevent the crew from building the ramp to its full length, it could be completed at some later date when the water returns to these extreme lows. Features of the new ramp will include: a retrofitting of the existing walkway with a cable system to move up and down with the water level, fish habitat areas on each side, and deep V-shaped grooves in the concrete surface for
Demolition work on the old Nakusp boat ramp began last week. A new, temporary ramp that can be used during construction is scheduled to be ready by sometime this week. Craig Savage/Arrow Lakes News
traction. Although the new ramp will not extend as far as the current one, it will reach the lake bottom, unlike the current one. The grade will be 13.5 per cent, which is in the industry standard range of 12–15 per cent. Although the main contractor for the job is from out of town,
there are several local businesses who will benefit. Rob Udy, president of Landmark, stated that although his team would supply much of the specialized labour needed, they would seek to utilize local partners as much as possible. Arrow Lakes Redi-Mix will be supplying the concrete, and
many of the supplies will come from Home Hardware. Udy also confirmed that Ray Hascarl would assist with the project. Those with concerns and questions are encouraged to contact Audrey Repin at Columbia Power; her phone number is 250-3046060.
The bylaw calls for the development to recognize “the strong community interest in maintaining the rural character of the Shelter Bay area while providing a mix of land uses, residential densities and housing types, amenities and public space.” There were only about 25 people in attendance, including Ilkay and several people from his development team. Of those in attendance, only
three people raised concerns. Virginia Thompson, who said she and her husband own property in the area, asked how emergency services would be provided at the development. Notably, she wanted to know how services such as fire, police and ambulance would be incorporated as the development grows and if there were any hard triggers for their establishment. Jan Thingsted, a planner with the Columbia-Shuswap Regional
District, said it was hard to predict when those services would be offered: “It really does depend on many different factors and it’s difficult to predict at what rate things were sell and what rate people will start to live there more permanently and start to demand those services.” Rene Hueppi, the owner of the Mulvehill Creek Wilderness Inn, said he was concerned about increased traffic on Highway 23 Shelter, page 2
Shelter Bay development public hearing attracts small turnout Alex Cooper Black Press
A 767-unit development for the area north of the Shelter Bay ferry appears to be moving full steamahead towards approval after only a few concerns were voiced about it at a public hearing in Revelstoke last Tuesday. The development, which is being headed by Ender Ilkay, calls for 767 units ranging from trailer
lots to multi-acre properties along Highway 23 South near the ferry. Ilkay previously held two open houses where he presented his plans and his proposal has been moving formally through the CSRD since July 2012. It has passed first two hearings and a public hearing on a bylaw that would amend the Official Community Plan to allow for the development was held at the community centre on Feb. 5.
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