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Lake Country
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Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carrs Landing since 1951
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February 27, 2013
▼ OKANAGAN LAKE GREENSPACE
Inside
Public lakefront will be cleared of private property
Lake Country RCMP are recommending that several witnesses of a car crash into Wood Lake be awarded for their heroism after risking their own lives to try and save another person ...............................
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Lake Country council remain firm in their decision to not allow two variance requests to lengthen docks along Okanagan Lake. ...............................
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There’s still time to enter the Open Mic Has Talent contest at the Lake Country Coffee House. ...............................
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Flyers ■ Budget Blinds ■ JYSK ■ Staples
KEVIN PARNELL Despite some heated opposition from a group of Okanagan Centre residents, Lake Country council is moving forward with a plan to clean up the Okanagan Centre greenspace, a public trail that is currently littered with private property including boathouses, canoes, tables and chairs. At its Feb. 19 meeting, a group of residents presented council with a 122-name petition of residents who wanted a public hearing on the issue before any clean-up goes ahead. But their efforts did not sway council, which collectively voted to move ahead with the clean-up and remove private property from the public park. “This (issue) has been coming before council after council ever since (Lake Country) incorporated,” said Coun. Lisa Cameron, the councillor elected to represent the Okanagan Centre ward. “It’s time for the clean-up to be completed. Absolutely there will be lots of opportunity to talk about amenities that the community and citizens of Lake Country would like to see in the public park (after it’s cleaned up).” The clean-up effort was back in front of council only after a motion to rescind the district’s previous motion to remove private property from the greenspace was put forward by Coun. Penny Gambell at the Feb. 5 council meeting. But before the debate even began, Gam-
bell withdrew the motion to rescind. “I felt it was my duty to listen to my constituents but I have come to the conclusion that there is currently little support on council to rescind the motion. I do hope that the staff will approach the clean up task with sensitivity and common sense.” Despite the removal of her motion, several members of Okanagan Centre spoke, including David Geen who had organized the public movement against the clean-up. “What somebody sees as an old building that is post mature but not creating a problem, that is beauty to some people,” said Geen. “That is part of the thing that we feel is being foisted on us. This is the heritage of Okanagan Centre and you take that away when you sterilize it.” When pushed by residents about the clean-up, district parks director Steve Schaffrick said the parks committee, as well as community volunteers, will be doing the work and all non-public items will be removed. “We will be removing anything that doesn’t belong on the greenspace such as derelict buildings, old chairs, any non-public property,” he said. “Some people have contacted us and said they will be removing their structures before April 20 which is the date that has been set for the beginning of the clean-up.” In the end, council voted to hand the cleanup over to district staff
CONTRIBUTED
LAKE COUNTRY council is moving ahead to clean up the trail known as the greenspace in Okanagan Centre.
Pictured is a boat house (above) and some chairs (below right) that are locked to a tree as an example of what will be removed. Resident David Geen (below) presented a petition to council with 120 names on it, but his efforts failed to sway council to hold a public meeting before any clean-up is done.
to move ahead with its plans, which includes installing several picnic tables for residents to use once the tidy up is complete. Cameron said it was high time the greenspace became open for all residents of Lake Country and not just those
that have been using it for their own purposes and storing their private property on it. “I’d like to thank my fellow councillors for the leadership they have shown and thank the citizens of Okanagan Centre for their patience in waiting for council to
finally address the Okanagan Centre greenspace public/private conflict,” said Cameron. “We can all be proud of the fact that today we have
helped create a legacy for Lake Country with a truly public park for all Lake Country residents and future residents to enjoy.”
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