Remote control airplanes are creating a buzz in a Lake Country neighbourhood.
Residents on Lodge and Reiswig roads want the District of Lake Country to take action over the Kelowna Ogopogo Radio Controllers Club using a property for flights.
“They were flying off their property and over properties where people are raising chickens and horses,” said Mayor James Baker.
“Livestock was being upset by the noise.”
A petition has asked the district to end the flying of radio controlled aircraft in the field.
“Living directly beside the field, it is unbearable with the noise and over-flying directly over our house,” said resident Laura Collins in a letter to council.
“Excess traffic is a steady stream already. We couldn’t even sell with that beside us.”
Lloyd and Jo Ann Furneaux wrote, “We ride our horses on Reiswig. If my horse spooks, somebody will be sued.”
The Kelowna Ogopogo Radio Controllers Club says it’s taken the concerns of residents seriously.
“To minimize the impact of our club’s activities on the neighbourhood even further, we are working to relocate our field runway to the far south of the property,” said John Falconer, club spokesperson.
“We are also applying for an access permit off of Lodge Road to eliminate the minor increased traffic of our members accessing the property from Reiswig Road.”
Falconer says the aircraft are about one-half electric and one-half internal combustion engine.
“All the aircraft are required to meet a noise maximum limit of 92 decibels at six meters at full throttle,” he said.
“In comparison, this is significantly quieter than the overflying commercial jets, passing buses and recreational motor bikes.”
The district is investigating its role in the matter.
“The new council will get a report from staff on what the district may be able to do. Apparently that is a permitted use on agricultural land,” said Baker.
“The district will work things out and try and make sure the club doesn’t overfly its area.”
