Summerland council is opposed to a proposed gravel extraction operation in the Garnet Valley area, but the decision on whether the plan proceeds rests with the province, not the municipality.
The application notice, from December 2023, is for 27410 Garnet Valley Rd. It was filed by Marcus Grymonpre, of
The proposal has resulted in plenty of opposition from the community.
Steve Lornie of the Garnet Valley Agritourism Association said there are potential consequences if the proposal goes ahead. These include road safety, environmental impacts, noise and dust and damage to the road.
Lornie added that four members of the association live adjacent to or across the road from the proposed operation and would be directly affected by it.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation also spoke to the proposed mine and raised concerns about the effect of the proposal on the surrounding area, including Eneas Creek.
害羞草研究所淭he valley is a highly diverse landscape with open forest, sensitive wetlands and unique south-facing grasslands,害羞草研究所� said Jesse Zeman, executive director of the B.C. Wildlife Federation. 害羞草研究所淭he valley is inside the study area of the Southern Interior Mule Deer Project, an independent research effort funded by the B.C. Wildlife Federation.害羞草研究所�
The Summerland Sportsman害羞草研究所檚 Association has also spoken against the proposal.
害羞草研究所淕arnet Valley has been the recipient of large investments in habitat restoration through the collaborations between our association, Penticton Indian Band, Ministry of Forests, South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program, and the Conservation Officer Services,害羞草研究所� said Blair Parker, vice-president of the Summerland Sportsman害羞草研究所檚 Association.
害羞草研究所淰ast sections of this valley have been acknowledged as having very high environmental sensitivity and are one of only a handful of places in Canada where you can find these grassland ecosystems.害羞草研究所�
Brad Besler, who lives in the Garnet Valley, also raised concerns about the proposed mine operation.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 strongly opposed to the mine proposal at the end of Garnet Valley Road,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that he would like council to send a unanimous letter in opposition to this proposal.
Murray Roney said tree cutting has already been done at the site, without permission. He also said a gravel site would result in noise pollution and dust issues.
At the Summerland council meeting on Jan. 16, Brad Dollevoet, director of development services for the municipality, recommended council send a comment to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, recommending refusal of the mine operation.
He said the proposal is in an environmentally sensitive area. Eneas Creek is downstream and downhill from the property and a gravel operation could affect the creek, he said.
The property is designated as Open Lands in the Official Community Plan and zoned as Forestry Grazing. Natural resource extraction is not permitted under these land uses.
The area has known land slippage and geotechnical stability concerns, Dollevoet said. As a result, a potential gravel operation could have hazardous effects in the area and downhill.
Dollevoet added that the applicant had quoted the incorrect municipality and incorrect community plan in the submission.
Members of council also were opposed to the proposed gravel operation.
Coun. Erin Trainer said she has concerns about geotechnical issues and slope stability on the area.
害羞草研究所淭his proposal is asking a lot of Summerlanders,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 a good proposal at all.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Richard Barkwill said aggregate from the facility is not needed in Summerland.
Others on council also expressed their opposition to the proposal.
As a result, council voted unanimously to send a letter to the province, rejecting the proposed gravel operation.
Still, the decision on whether the mine will proceed will rest with the ministry.
