No help for pool study
South Okanagan partners in a multi-community pool project have learned they will not be receiving any provincial help for a feasibility study — at least not now.
The partners — the towns of Osoyoos and Oliver, the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen — had made a request in December to access up to $100,000 in provincial Rural Dividend Program funding to cover the costs of the study, which would detail potential services, capital and operating costs, site assessment, facil- ity layout and design and also develop a cost sharing, governance and operating model.
Oliver manager Cathy Cowan received word on March 19 that funding would not be forthcoming.
“The Rural Dividend Program received a large number of applications in the fourth intake period and the funding requested significantly exceeded the program’s available funds,” explained Sarah Fraser, executive director of rural development with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
“Unfortunately, your application did not receive a high enough ranking in the review and assessment process to be selected for funding.”
The news brought disappointment from Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff. “When you have five interested local municipal and regional groups willing to work together for the betterment of the whole area, that has to be a positive step and a great example of collaboration,” she said Saturday.
“However, we feel that it is a very worthwhile study to pursue, so the five groups involved will fund it.”
The partners have all provided letters of support for the project, which all hope will culminate in the construction of an aquatic centre to service the South Okanagan.
There’s still some hope provincial help will be available to fund the study.
Fraser encouraged the partners to speak with program staff at the province to “provide feedback on how (the application) can be improved.
“In addition, the program maintains a list of other funding opportunities available for rural communities, some of these programs might be suitable for your project,” she added.