A smorgasbord of information on North Okanagan services is being presented to residents today.
The Regional District of North Okanagan wants the public to help shape the region’s future at an open house from 3 to 7 p.m.
The RDNO is looking for public feedback on:
• The RDNO Solid Waste Management Plan: www.rdno.ca/swmp; and
See related: Lumby supports solid waste plan
• The new Open Space and Trails Policy, including the Okanagan Rail Trail.
Input from the community is critical to help shape these services to meet the needs of the North Okanagan.
That includes waste management, and looking at how we can reduce the amount of garbage we collect at our landfills, which can be via diversion, reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, or other approaches.
Dale Danallanko, RDNO’s manager of RDF operations, said the plan has been in the works for about nine months.
“It’s a regulatory requirement from the province,” he said. “It’s a planning process for solid waste, not an implementation plan. We’re looking at a 10-year planning horizon and that plan gets reviewed every five years.”
All regional districts in B.C. are required to have solid waste management plans. The last one done by RDNO was in 2011.
Board approval on the plan is expected in May or June, and then will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment.
The RDNO also coordinates work on trails in the region to connect our communities. The Open Space and Trails Policy serves to guide future trail planning (including the Rail Trail), natural space acquisition, and defines trail types that will become synonymous with our region.
Staff will also be available to share information on many of the services offered by RDNO, including:
• The Cultural Plan – learn about the exciting things coming out of the Greater Vernon Cultural Plan which supports the Performing Arts Centre, Museum, Community Arts Centre, Boys and Girls Club, and Public Art Gallery.
• The Greater Vernon Water (GVW) 2017 Master Water Plan – sets out how GVW will sustainably manage our water supply for the next twenty-five years.
• The Safe Communities Program – learn how to keep you, your home and neighbourhood safe.
• Emergency Preparation – learn how you can protect your home in the event of flooding or other emergency.
There is another open house April 16 regarding Swan Lake.
See: Input sought for future of Swan Lake
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