By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle

Osoyoos to set aside $50,000 in previously unspent funds for an accessible fishing pier at sẁiẁs Provincial Park (formerly Haynes Point) among other decisions related to resort town projects.

The town of Osoyoos decided at its June 24 meeting to move the money for the project into the town’s 2026 capital budget so that when the plan finally goes ahead, the money will be there.

The project was included in the Resort Development Strategy (RDS) 2022 – 2024, but Rod Risling, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) explained that “there have been issues with staffing at the provincial level and getting advice and approvals from them. So, there is a real concern in keeping that project in the plan because these plans have deadlines.”

Due to these challenges, and the fact that the project requires input and approval from BC Parks, the project has been delayed with no defined completion date.

The involved parties, such as the town and the Osoyoos Indian Band would benefit from “taking it out of the plan because there are deadlines in the plan and recommending to council to actually incorporate it into the town’s capital budget, and when it does come to fruition that funding is there, because it could be two, three, four, five years out.”

Taking the funding out of the RDS and into the town’s capital budget allows it to “not be hindered by imposed deadlines within the RDS program,” the report to council explains.

Osoyoos is one of 14 municipalities in the province that has a “resort municipality” designation, and as one of these municipalities they receive grant funding from the government.

Dan Wilson, with Whistler Centre for Sustainability (WCS) Engagement & Planning presented to Osoyoos council on the new Resort Development Strategy 2025 – 2027 and the amount of funding that the town of Osoyoos might receive throughout that three-year period.

Wilson explained that the proposed provincial allocation to Osoyoos for 2025-2027 would be $1,328,000 over three years which works out to $446,000 per year.

When it comes to the RDS, there are certain spending criteria that must be met. A minimum of 70 per cent of the funding has to be spent on infrastructure. Up to 30 per cent can be spent on events, services, and programs over the three-year duration of the program. And up to $20,000 per year can be spent on administration of the program, whether that is creating the strategy or measuring the outcomes.

This breaks down to $935,972 (70 per cent) for resort Infrastructure, $375,000 (28 per cent) for resort Services (programs and events), and $17,500 (two per cent) for administration.

The proposed 70 per cent capital allocation will go towards:

  • Electronic Communications Sign (Hwy 3/97) $175,000;
  • Active Transportation (bike racks/repair) $40,000;
  • Flag Project $10,000;
  • Wellness Trail (Pioneer Walkway) $100,000;
  • Gyro Park $211,000;
  • Accessible year-round washroom (Pioneer Walkway – continued from 2022-24) $400,000.

The proposed 30 per cent operating allocation will go towards:

  • Event support (grants) – $300,000 total ($100,000 per year);
  • Beach cleaning, waterfront safety, boat trailer parking lot administration and general administration – $ 92,500 over the three years.

Council approved sending this new proposed RDS to the province for their approval.

Town Council also approved carrying forward other unused funding from the RDS 2022-2024. These projects were uncompleted and totaled around $610,000.

The summary of these projects are as follows:

  • Swim platforms: Cottonwood and Legion Beach $200,000;
  • Electronic Communications Sign/and sign platform (east entrance Hwy 3) $195,000;
  • Public Art $ 25,000;
  • Environmental Sustainability $ 10,000;
  • Accessible year-round washroom (portion of costs) (Pioneer Walkway) $180,000.