The thought of Loose Bay campground closing down and area hillsides dotted with transient campers is not a pretty one.
That’s exactly why a new water agreement is being hammered out by local government.
On April 14 Greg Norton from the Loose Bay campground society told Oliver council that they lost their water supply and needed to examine other options. (Water was previously supplied by Covert Farms, but they suddenly discontinued that provision.)
Norton didn’t have to remind council how valuable Loose Bay is to the community, but he did anyway. He admitted that the campground on top of Secrest Hill Road is not a perfect situation, but it has been self-sustaining over the past several years. Mayor Ron Hovanes said the demise of Loose Bay is not an answer, and expressed his worry about what the Oliver hillsides would look like if not for the rural campground.
Norton presented the preferred option of hooking into the Town’s water system via a 1.5 inch water line. He said the total budget would be $46,000.
The nearest location of municipal water is just off of Secrest Hill Road, near the bottom of the hill. From here to Loose Bay is just over one kilometre in distance.
In order to get water there, the Town needs to install a service connection to the municipal water main. Then the regional district and the society would normally need to install and maintain a booster pump next to the service connection, and a service pipeline all the way up the hill to the campsite.
The issue of ownership and liability prompted some debate.
Water councillor Andre Miller raised a concern about the Town being held liable if the water line broke and washed out the highway.
Councillor Jack Bennest supported expediting the project, but didn’t like the Town taking full responsibility if the line is not built to current standards.
“It’s not one of our lines, and it’s not fair if that line becomes the responsibility of the Town.”
But Norton said it’s not going to be a “Mickey Mouse” job, and asked council not to envision him doing it with his tractor.
“It will be a seasonal line and it will be professionally installed.”
Area D director Allan Patton said they have to complete this work as quickly as possible. “I’m desperate to get this done.”
Patton said the other option is bringing water tanks on site and filling them every three or four days. But he doesn’t want to spend money on a temporary system.
The director said the regional district can own the line, but that would mean establishing a bylaw and conducting an engineer’s report.
“It would take a full year, which is absolute nonsense.”
Councillor Dave Mattes made the motion that council support expediting the installation of the water line up to and within Loose Bay. In addition, staff will enter into an agreement with the society and the regional district for the ongoing operation of the water line, and that ownership of the system be transferred to the regional district within 18 months.
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay advised council that the Town’s service to Loose Bay should end at the property line and not venture into the camp itself.
But Mattes said his motion does not suggest that the Town is responsible for anything inside the campground.
Council did not authorize any cost contribution from the Town.
“As a result, the draft agreement will treat this as any other service and will require cost payment by the customer,” Szalay said.
If council wishes to contribute Town funds, it will have to pass a resolution to do so.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
