Frustration over a provincial decision on a gravel pit has led Summerland council to draft a resolution to address the decision-making process.

At the Summerland council meeting on Jan. 21, council approved a resolution which will be presented to the Southern Interior Local Government Association.

The resolution calls on the Union of B.C. Municipalities to request the province to require statutory decision makers 91裸聊视频渢o work with local governments to resolve conflicts, prior to approving aggregate activities under a Mines Act permit, whenever a proposed activity does not conform to existing local government zoning.91裸聊视频�

In 2024, the provincial Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation approved an application for a gravel operation in the Garnet Valley area of Summerland.

This approval was granted despite opposition from Summerland council, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, Indigenous bands in the region and residents and business owners near the site.

While the site, at 27410 Garnet Valley Rd., is within Summerland91裸聊视频檚 municipal boundaries, the approval was made by the ministry, not by the municipality.

Summerland mayor Doug Holmes said the ministry did not follow its own guidelines in making the decision to approve the gravel pit.

91裸聊视频淭here were flaws in the process,91裸聊视频� he said in late September, after the decision had been made. 91裸聊视频淲e want the province to address these flaws.91裸聊视频�

Members of council and municipal staff remain disappointed with the way the ministry acted at the time.

91裸聊视频淭hey didn91裸聊视频檛 even talk to us,91裸聊视频� Holmes said. 91裸聊视频淣ot even giving us a phone call is not working with us. Anything91裸聊视频檚 better than what they did.91裸聊视频�

While Holmes and Summerland council have criticized the approval process, Nini Long, executive director of the regional operations branch with the ministry, said the process was followed.

91裸聊视频淎ll relevant factors that are within the scope of the Mines Act, were reviewed and considered,91裸聊视频� she said in a letter to Holmes, dated Oct. 25. 

The resolution will be brought to the Southern Interior Local Government Association91裸聊视频檚 convention, which will be held in Merritt from April 29 to May 2.

Resolutions from this convention will be brought forward to the Union of B.C. Municipalities, which will hold its convention in late September.