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Rail trail drives residential concerns

Owners of a four-lot strata on Highridge Road want access to a dock
Ron Woitzik photo
Owners of a four-lot strata on Highridge Road use the former rail corridor to access a dock.

Some residents want to ensure the Okanagan Rail Trail doesn’t leave them high and dry.

Owners of a four-lot strata on Highridge Road, south of Coldstream, have asked the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to permit their dock on Kalamalka Lake, which can only be accessed across the planned recreational corridor.

“We had a certain amount of comfort,” said Myles McGovern, one of the strata owners, of the arrangement with Kelowna Pacific Railway when the track was in place.

However, McGovern says there was a recent rumour that RDNO would remove docks along the corridor.

“All existing docks should be honoured and grandfathered,” he said.

The strata currently carries liability insurance for crossing the track and there is also insurance for the dock.

McGovern says the residents often help boaters in distress and they want to be good neighbours with the rail trail.

“You expect people to be respectful of property. I don’t think there will be any issues,” he said.

GVAC will consider the request from the strata.

“This (trail) is a significant project that will have implications into the future. We are being cautious about requests,” said Juliette Cunningham, chairperson.