A community-wide losing battle against a gravel operation in the Garnet Valley area of Summerland left many disappointed and frustrated with the provincial government.
The application for the project was posted in December of 2023, and although the municipality issued their official opposition the next month, the project received approval from the Inspector of Mines.
The issue erupted into public focus in August of 2024, when the District of Summerland asked the then-Minister of Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation to overturn the Inspector's decision.
The municipality had strongly recommended refusal of the application, citing multiple reasons including environmental, zoning, safety, infrastructure, economic and cultural concerns.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen also recommended refusal of the application, and the Penticton Indian Band also opposed the project.
People living near the site said there are several concerns about the application, including 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� said Kurtis Norris, who lives near the site.
鈥淕arnet Valley risks constant water line breaks in the old agricultural line and some in the new water lines as well.鈥�
Steve Lornie of the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association said the proposal will affect homes and businesses in the area, including three properties adjacent to the mine.
鈥淭his decision of your ministry is destructive,鈥� he said in a letter to Josie Osborne, the provincial Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
鈥淚t 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.
He added that any possible economic advantages would be offset because of damage to incomes and property values in the area.
The Summerland Chamber of Commerce also added its voice to those opposed to the application.
鈥淔rom a tourism perspective, the peaceful Garnet Valley is an important recreational and tourist destination as it connects to the historic Fur Brigade Trail and provides the only connection between Peachland and Summerland for the emerging continuous hiking and biking trail from Sicamous to Osoyoos, known as the Trail of the Okanagans,鈥� Mike Hildebrand, president of the chamber, said in a letter to Osborne.
In addition, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, the BC Wildlife Federation and others have also spoken out in opposition to the location.
On Sept. 25, members of Summerland council and staff met with the ministry to discuss the gravel pit approval.
Summerland mayor Doug Holmes said there are concerns about the approval process. He said the ministry did not follow its own guidelines in the decision.
鈥淭here were flaws in the process,鈥� he said at the time. 鈥淲e want the province to address these flaws.鈥�
Nini Long, executive director of, regional operations branch with the ministry, said the permit decision will remain.
In a letter to Holmes dated Oct. 25, she said the process was done properly.
鈥淎ll relevant factors that are within the scope of the Mines Act, were reviewed and considered,鈥� the letter stated.
In early October, an effort was launched to raise money for a legal challenge against the gravel pit. This challenge was organized by the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association.
Around 100 people attended a meeting on Oct. 1, speaking out about their disappointment with the decision.
Holmes said the municipality鈥檚 efforts to stop the gravel operation will continue.
鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to look at our legal options,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he province feels that the concerns have been addressed, but we feel that they haven鈥檛 been addressed adequately.鈥�
