Trio Marine proponents welcome chance to discuss Skaha Lake proposal

PENTICTON – The men behind the Skaha Marina upgrades and the Skaha Waterpark proposal welcome public interest in the project and urge those with questions to pay them a visit.

Tom Dyas and Tom Hedquist, the two partners behind the two phase proposal that has garnered more than its share of controversy in Penticton over the past couple of months, say they want to be as open as possible about the project.

Trio Marine Group was formed to implement the proposal accepted by Penticton city council. The proposal was introduced at a council meeting on May 19 of this year.

Trio Marine Group Marketing Coodinator Roger Hulstein describes Hedquist as a Penticton resident and a businessman who owns Trademark Industries, a dock installation and replacement company. Dyas is a Kelowna-based businessman with a background in the financial industry. He’s been involved in developing business, commercial and hotel properties for 30 years.

Dyas says he’s smart enough to know what he doesn’t know, and hires the right people to manage those aspects of the job. Trio Marine Group is part of the World Waterpark Association, and is working with consultants in that industry as they develop their proposal.

Dyas says they are looking locally as much as possible. They have already hired 50 staff to run the present fledgling operation and have a monthly payroll running between $30,000 t0 $40,000. The restaurant operations began with a soft opening on June 2.

Hulstein says the company appreciates those who have been coming into the business and asking questions about the operation. He says they have been able to clear up a lot of misinformation about what was taking place on the Skaha waterfront.

“Pro or con, we’re glad people have taken the time to come in and educate themselves,” he says.

A vocal group of Penticton residents steadfastly against the proposal plan a second rally in front of City Hall, today, Aug. 4 at 5:30 p.m.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.