Residents and business owners in the Garnet Valley area of Summerland are disappointed with the province鈥檚 decision to approve a gravel operation in the area.

An application notice from December, 2023 was for a gravel operation at 27410 Garnet Valley Rd. The notice was filed by Marcus Grymonpre, of 1440254 B.C. Ltd.

In January, the municipality of Summerland strongly recommended refusal of the application. The reasons included environmental, zoning, safety, infrastructure, economic and cultural concerns.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen also submitted a referral recommending refusal of the application.

However, the proposal received approval from the Inspector of Mines 鈥� a decision that has raised the ire of some in the area.

Kurtis Norris, who lives near the site, said there are several concerns about the proposal. 

These include road safety, the infrastructure services under the road surface, animals and the environment, effects on local agriculture and devaluation of the properties in the area.

鈥淲ater lines and the road itself are not designed to a commercial road-secondary highway level,鈥� he said. 鈥淕arnet Valley risks constant water line breaks in the old agricultural line and some in the new water lines as well.鈥�

He added that the property has documented geotechnical and groundwater issues which affect Aeneas Creek and could cause significant problems as far as downtown Summerland.

In May, 2018, the a slide in the area affected the creek when a patch of debris 10 metres wide slid into the creek. A fir tree also fell into the south edge of the creek.

Steve Lornie of the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association said the proposal affects homes and businesses in the area, including three properties adjacent to the mine.

鈥淭his decision of your ministry is destructive. It is unacceptable to the residents and agritourism businesses in Garnet Valley, and to the vast majority of Summerlanders,鈥� he said in a letter to Josie Osborne,  the provincial Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

鈥淒istrict council opposed it unanimously, but their objections appear to be ignored by this decision.鈥�

He added that the effects on businesses and property owners in the area will outweigh the economic benefits of a gravel operation at the location.

鈥淎ny possible economic spinoff from this operation will be negated by the damage to the incomes and property values of all our members and every owner on Garnet Valley Road,鈥� the letter stated.

Lornie said agricultural and agritourism businesses operating in the area have invested tens of millions of dollars in land, buildings and other aspects of their operations. He believes the gravel operation could have a devastating effect on their operations. These include wineries, a lavender farm and an organic gardening operation.

鈥淚f this goes ahead, you can write this valley off as an agritourism destination,鈥� he said.

Lornie is the cofounder of Okanagan Crush Pad and has overseen development of the newly opened Garnet Valley Ranch, an organic vineyard and winery. Okanagan Crush Pad has worked on habitat restoration work in the Garnet Valley area and has done around two hectares of wetland restoration work near the site of the proposed gravel operation.

There are also two homes directly below the proposed mine site, which will both be affected by gravel extraction operations.

Lornie added that a gravel extraction is not needed as there is already an oversupply of sand and gravel in the area.

Blair Parker of the Summerland Sportsmans Association said the gravel operation could have significant effects on the mule deer population, a species the sportsmans association has worked to protect.

Since the decision was made, Summerland council has also voiced opposition.

鈥淕arnet Valley is known for its sensitive ecosystems, agriculture, agritourism and recreational values,鈥� said Mayor Doug Holmes.

鈥淭hose of us who live in Summerland know this is the wrong place for a gravel pit. Given that the decision was made rashly with such disregard for the community鈥檚 wishes, we are appealing to the minister to overturn it.鈥�

While the provincial decision has been made, Norrish said the province is able to change what has happened. He said a similar proposal in Kamloops was stopped earlier, after it had initially been approved.