KEVIN PARNELL
Black Press
One of the only safe harbours on the east side of Okanagan Lake will continue its retrofit with a $150,000 funding announcement from the federal government.
Work will begin this fall to continue to improve the Okanagan Centre safe harbour, a break-water designed for boaters to hunker down in rough waters on Okanagan Lake.
It’s a much-needed safety measure on Okanagan Lake, the body of water responsible for more deaths of any other lake in B.C. each year, according to Robert Hobson, chairman of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
“The problem is Okanagan Lake can blow up in a storm very quickly and there are very few places for safe harbour,” said Hobson.
”There is increased demand for boat facilities (on the lake) and this money will start the process of finishing this safe harbour.”
The breakwater, located in the Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park, was initially built in the 1970s using wooden materials. For the past 15 years, RDCO has been working to update the structure with work on the south side already completed and the expected work on the north side set for completion this year.
While the safe harbour is located in Lake Country (along Okanagan Centre Road West), the breakwater is a benefit to all users of Okanagan Lake. And with boat traffic not decreasing any time soon, making the water safer for everyone is key, according to Lake Country Mayor James Baker.
“This is an benefit for the whole region,” said Baker. “The harbour is full of boats in the summer. A lot of visitors come to this area and this will make the lake safer.”
The funding was acquired under the federal government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.
