Ecologically valuable land on Skaha Lake in South Okanagan sold to anonymous buyer

A controversial five-acre property on the shore of Skaha Lake in the South Okanagan has been purchased by an anonymous Vancouver family.

Regional district Kaleden director Subrina Montieth says the family has bought Sickle Point with preservation goals in mind.

The five-acre Skaha Lake shoreline property has been the subject of controversy for several decades, with environmental and conservation groups arguing for its preservation while private owners sought development permits. The property came up for court ordered sale last year and a local citizens group formed to raise funds to purchase the property. An alternate approval process was initiated late last year to raise as much as $3.1 million through taxation for the purchase, but more than 10 per cent of taxpayers voiced their lack of support.

Montieth says the private owner will continue to work with the Kaleden Community Association subcommittee group Save Sickle Point, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Penticton Indian Band on future conservation plans.

While she couldn't reveal the who the purchaser is or how much they paid for the property, she did say it was more than what the regional district had offered.

“It’s been a whirlwind of a week, from last Tuesday to this Tuesday, but preservation of the property is the goal. It’s been a long time coming, but we got there," Montieth says.

Sickle Point remains private land, she says, with no public access allowed at this time.

“Until it’s turned over to a land trust, we won’t be doing anything, because it’s private property again. But this time the donors’ intention is conservation. They are working closely with Penticton Indian Band and myself, and other land trusts to come up with the best options for that property,” Montieth says, adding everyone is thrilled with the news.

Find past stories on Sickle Point here.

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