To many people Oliver Mountain is sacred ground when it comes to ecosystem preservation and wildlife protection.
Ecosystems like this can’t afford further erosion by recreational vehicles, and species-at-risk can’t afford to be threatened by continued human encroachment via machines.
However, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is trying to offer a happy medium after last year’s public consultations in Oliver and Osoyoos.
On one hand, environmentalists want to preserve the mountain’s flora and fauna. On the other hand, motocross and ATV users want to continue their recreational pursuits there.
Therefore, the ministry has proposed a 29-hectare recreation site on the mountain to allow motocross use on designated trails only. The plan also calls for a ban on the use of motor vehicles on nearly 350 hectares of the mountain (a Wildlife Act edict that came into effect on July 1).
Under the ministry’s proposal for trails and recreational facilities on Crown land, the Oliver Mountain plan will include improved road access and a parking lot complete with picnic table, pit toilet and sign kiosk.
The location of the proposed recreational facility is west of Oliver, with access via Willowbrook Road, approximately two kilometres north of the Willowbrook/Fairview Road junction.
We understand the concern about the damage that dirt bikes can cause to the environment (we have seen enough of it), but in this case the ministry is offering a compromise that hopefully everyone can live with.
The key here is responsible ridership. There are many responsible motocross riders in the South Okanagan, but a number of them aren’t. So it will be up to the majority of the riders to prove that they can stick to the trails and not negatively impact the environment. If, after a year, more damage is recorded, the ministry should revisit the decision to allow recreational vehicles on the mountain.
Off-road vehicle networks have a reputation to uphold, and this proposal will be their test.
It’s nice to see that Recreation Sites and Trails BC will enter into a partnership agreement with the South Okanagan Dirt Bike Club to manage and maintain the proposed site and trail system on Oliver Mountain.
