By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
Additional funding for a food-focused facility project in Oliver has been granted by the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) to cover extra cost amounts that have arisen.
The Oliver Community Kitchen project, first proposed in 2023, aims to renovate the existing Oliver Community Centre kitchen “to improve functionality, safety, and service delivery”.
The project was priced out using estimates, and dollar values available at the time. However, recently the cost estimates have risen due to factors such as changes to the design scope, and other changes required for the project to fulfill its main objectives.
Last month, the profile was presented to the RDOS Board of Directors for a funding increase request of $387,279. The presentation states that contractors were consulted to determine the full scale of the increased cost figures, as well as project partners and technical consultants.
Board members voted to approve the additional funding without any further discussion. The funding will come from the Electoral Area “C” Community Works Fund, and will not have any tax implications on residents.
The renovation project first stemmed from the Oliver Food Action Plan, which focuses on improving food security in the community, and in addition to upgrading equipment, the project will improve the amount of available space to work in the kitchen.
