-Water twinning, reservior also part of deal-
OSOYOOS TIMES-April 30, 2008-
By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times
The developers of the proposed Willow Beach Resort signed a deal with the Town of Osoyoos last week that would see the developers provide the remaining funding to complete the Northwest Sewer Project, should the development be approved.
Mayor John Slater signed the memorandum of understanding with Robert Wilson, president of Willow Beach Developments Ltd., at Osoyoos Town Hall on April 24.
This will allow all of the critical homes on the northwest side of the lake to finally be hooked up to a proper sewer system and put an end to pollution of the lake that these homes were causing, Wilson said.
Last summer, the provincial and federal governments awarded a $4.5 million grant towards the Northwest Sewer Project, which is planned to connect 121 homes still using septic tanks to the town's sewage system.
The sewage project's steering committee is in the process of applying for a $1.5 million grant from the Okanagan Basin Water Board. The project's total estimated budget is $8 million and until now it appeared that most of the economic shortfall would land in the laps of the homeowners at the northwest end of the lake.
Wilson said the estimated infrastructure budget for the Willow Beach development is $70 million.
Earlier this month, Osoyoos town officials announced they would extend the town's sewage system to accommodate the waste from the Willow Beach development should the project be approved. While it is unusual for the Town to extend sewage services outside of Osoyoos boundaries, councillors said they were concerned about the potential environmental effects of a sewage facility at or near Willow Beach.
While the decision to approve the Willow Beach development proposed for the north end of the lake lies entirely with the RDOS, if the development is approved, the Town's involvement in servicing will eliminate potential discharge of treated effluent into the lake and ensure water quality for future generations, Slater said.
The 121 homes along the lake's northwest side will also remain part of the RDOS.
Another stipulation of the agreement would see the Willow Beach developers provide water utility extensions to Osoyoos's water system number 8, which tends to be affected by boil-water advisories during the summer months.
This memorandum of understanding puts into place a program which will result in the twinning of the domestic water system for the northwest side of the lake and will provide clean drinking water all year round for those residents, Wilson said. There will be no more boil-water advisories.
New Interior Health regulations require that Osoyoos enact a water twinning system which would provide treated potable water for domestic use and water from the lake for irrigation purposes.
Another provision of the agreement would see the developers create a reservoir and utilities for the Rural Osoyoos Fire Protection District, which the developers are approaching about servicing the Willow Beach project.
I think it's a great start, said RDOS Rural Area A Director Mark Pendergraft.
Ultimately, there needs to be some kind of contract (if the project is approved.)rnPendergraft said he had no problem with the Town making deals with the Willow Beach developers since there are no strings attached, meaning both the proposed housing project and the homes along the lake's northwest shore would remain part of the regional district.
The Willow Beach development passed its second reading with the RDOS at an April 17 board meeting. The next stage in the process will be a public hearing, for which a date has not yet been announced.
Wilson said last week he was told by RDOS staff that the hearing would likely take place by the end of June, although Pendergraft said it could come later.
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