People listen while fruit grower David Machial outlines his concerns about the KVR trail proposal during Tuesday night’s meeting in the Oliver Legion hall. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
Not in our backyard.
That was the resounding message at last night’s meeting outlining the regional district’s plan to expand the KVR trail network from Road 22 to south of Oliver.
Numerous farmers and other landowners piled into the Oliver Legion hall Tuesday to hear parks and facilities coordinator Justin Shuttleworth explain the proposal and its benefits. But the concern is the trail would run adjacent to farmers’ orchards and private property, and the fear is the potential for theft, vandalism and liability.
Several landowners said spending money on a new trail along the KVR right-of-way doesn’t make sense when the nearby hike and bike trail already exists.
A couple of people expressed support for the regional district’s plan and the positive impacts on tourism, but they were met with booing from the crowd.
Some of the opponents made it clear that they support the KVR trail concept, but not the location in rural Oliver.
Several called for the regional district to secure tenure of the existing hike and bike path to maintain and expand that trail network.
Area C director Terry Schafer told the Chronicle that his “marching orders” from last night’s crowd are to push for tenure on the existing trail.
Read the full story in next week’s Chronicle.
