WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is considering the sale of Crown owned recreational lease lots located on reservoir lakes; AND WHEREAS the sale of recreational lease lots creates concerns about community water quality and security, contravention of current land use and building bylaws, compliance with sewage regulations and contravention of riparian area regulations: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the provincial government to maintain ownership of recreational lease lots located on reservoir lakes and to ensure compliance with land use and building bylaws and codes, sewage regulations and to ensure that water quality is maintained.
Integrated Land Management Bureau The Province has put considerable effort over the past two years into working with stakeholders, examining their concerns and exploring various options to address the issues raised. The Integrated Land Management Bureau ILMB has heard the concerns of local government and water purveyors and has put the project on hold for approximately two years. This delay will allow communities to complete the necessary hydrology studies that will help to determine future reservoir storage needs and capacities. ILMB will not be making a decision on whether to proceed with the sale of the reservoir lakes lease lots until they have fully consulted with local elected officials as well as First Nations. The Province is committed to making an informed, balanced decision and will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure any new information about the potential impacts that these sales might have on water quality, and the ability to expand the reservoirs, is reviewed. During this delay, critical information that is necessary for making a fully informed decision will be compiled on the state of the water sources in the Okanagan. The ILMB responds to complaints involving Crown land issues on a priority basis, and only on issues that are within our mandate. Local governments are best suited to enforcing their bylaws and zoning regulations.