Another rally to protest Skaha Lake development
PENTICTON – Penticton city council and the proposed Skaha Lake waterfront development will be the target of a rally planned for Tuesday.
Organizer Lisa Martin says she is hoping for a big turnout at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 4, on the steps of city hall, which she says will include several speakers.
Several hundred protestors rallied outside city hall last month, July 20, and poured into council chambers to make their opposition to the plan from Trio Marine Group to revitalize the Skaha Lake Marina waterfront.
The protestors demanded council call a referendum on the issue, or at the very least rethink the plan, something that doesn’t seem likely given the mayor and councillors reaction to the protest.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said council was united in its support of the proposed development, which includes new docks, a restaurant and a waterpark. Although he added he wanted to give everyone on council time to think about the opposition.
Those against the proposal don’t like the idea of the water slides going up on city-owned green space, namely Skaha Lake Park.
The development is one of the items on the agenda of a public hearing scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
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.
— This story was updated at Aug. 4, 2015, to correct a date.
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2 responses
I’m sure that there will be complaints no matter where the water slides would be targeted to go. Not in my back yard!! I think development is good for a city’s growth, we need to be more than just a retirement town. I met a guy lately that was adamant about not having the water slides here, when questioned if he seen the plans, he admitted he had not! I say we all need to make an informed decision here, not just jumping into the frenzy which seems to be happening.
The water slides must go in the park as that is where the zoning allows.Cannot go into a residential area, for example. Currently the park is used by 20 to 30 people at any one time where the watersides will go. With watersides, expect 200. Parks are for people.