Regional board approves South Okanagan-Similkameen conservation fund

PENTICTON – It’s taken more than a year, but South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program manager Bryn White has a commitment for a regional conservation fund — almost.

With the exception of Osoyoos, the regional district board voted yesterday, July 7, to support a sub-regional conservation service.

The vote comes months after White first approached the board in February, 2015, with the idea of creating a regional conservation fund that could be used to leverage higher levels of funding in support of local environmental initiatives.

Bryn presented the idea to various regional member municipalities and electoral areas over the past year, including Penticton council at a Committee of the Whole meeting last October.

Penticton council originally voted to opt out of the regional fund earlier this year, but following some second thoughts last month, reversed their position.

On Thursday, Osoyoos Director Sue McKortoff moved an amendment to remove Osoyoos from the service area, citing the need to consult with Osoyoos residents on the matter.

West Bench Director Michael Brydon resisted the amendment, saying environmental initiatives were regional in benefit, and those non-participating members could be considered “freeloading.”

“We need to think regionally. This belongs at the basin level,” Brydon said but was unable to sway McKortoff from opting out.

The cost of the new program is calculated at $10 a year for an average household valued at $343,000.

Public assent for the service is also needed, and will come by way of the alternate approval process.

The $10 tax is expected to generate around $500,000 annually, creating a fund that can be used to leverage further funding to go towards regionally based projects of environmental value. A task committee will be set up to provide project recommendations.

The fund is expected to be in place in time for the 2017 budget process.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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