It’s good to see the Regional District of North Okanagan considering the possibility of a sewer treatment facility for the Swan Lake corridor.
After all, most politicians during the last election insisted their first priority was economic development and job creation. However, the reality is that most of the large tracts of land available for industry are in the rural areas and services, such as sewer, are critically needed for development to proceed.
RDNO’s plan would not only ensure services for the Swan Lake corridor and protect the sensitive ecosystem around Swan Lake, but sewer could also be extended to potential development lands in south Spallumcheen and the Okanagan Indian Reserve.
The unfortunate aspect of this, though, is that RDNO’s process is partly motivated by Vernon’s long-standing refusal to extend its sewer system into areas that are outside of city boundaries. The only way to access sewer is to be annexed.
While city officials defend their policy by saying they would experience challenges forcing customers outside of city limits to pay their bill or to be responsible for future capital needs, those are details that can be worked out in a legal agreement. Communities across the province have such arrangements.
Ideally, a regional sewer service, similar to the multi-jurisdictional Greater Vernon Water, would be the best way to meet the needs of residents and the local economy.
But until that occurs, RDNO is moving in the right direction.
