Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
February 26, 2016 - 12:30 PM
COLDSTREAM - The provincial government has abandoned efforts to remove land from Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.
The province announced today, Feb. 26, it is no longer pursuing a boundary adjustment to remove a 20-metre right of way from the park.
The Ministry of Transportation initially wanted the right of way removed so it could upgrade the road, including widening it in areas and improving sight lines.
That plan fuelled considerable opposition from local government and community groups.
Now, the province says it’s taking a different route. After consulting with B.C. Parks, the ministry says the improvements can be achieved with a Parks Use Permit.
“The Park Use Permit, which is currently being reviewed by B.C. Parks, will enable the ministry to achieve its goals on Cosens Bay Road while reducing the potential impact to Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park that a boundary adjustment would have presented,” states a media release from the ministry.
The ministry states it will work closely with B.C. Parks staff to “ensure that all necessary environmental mitigation works are addressed and First Nations consultation is followed as per conditions of the Park Use Permit.”
If approved, a permit could be issued in early 2016.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016