A Lake Okanagan Resort (LOR) homeowner is pushing the provincial housing minister to 香蕉视频直播渟how up香蕉视频直播� for the community.
Nearly two years after the McDougall Creek wildfire tore through the resort, residents like Heather Ormiston say they are still stuck香蕉视频直播攗nable to rebuild, unable to return, and unable to get answers from the resort香蕉视频直播檚 ownership or the provincial government.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not asking for special treatment香蕉视频直播攚e just want to restore our homes,香蕉视频直播� Ormiston said.
The fire destroyed most of the resort香蕉视频直播檚 infrastructure in August 2023, including water and sewer systems owned and operated by LOR. The resort is owned by DHi Holdings Inc., a company based in Richmond. A group of Chinese investors acquired the resort in 2014.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e doing everything in their power to not have to move forward with restoring that water utility,香蕉视频直播� Ormiston said. 香蕉视频直播淔or the majority of the last two years, they have ignored our emails. And when push comes to shove and they do respond, it香蕉视频直播檚 either lies, it香蕉视频直播檚 stall tactics, or it香蕉视频直播檚 inflated estimates.香蕉视频直播�
Ormiston cited one early claim from the company香蕉视频直播攖hat the fire had destroyed the water plant香蕉视频直播攚hich she said turned out to be false.
香蕉视频直播淲e insisted on doing a visual inspection,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭he water treatment plant wasn香蕉视频直播檛 even touched by the fire. It香蕉视频直播檚 in pristine shape.香蕉视频直播�
With no clear plan from the resort owner, residents say their only path forward is to create a solution themselves.
香蕉视频直播淲e came up with this viable solution for us to go it alone,香蕉视频直播� Ormiston said. 香蕉视频直播淏e independent of LOR.香蕉视频直播�
She and her neighbours, who make up the 99-unit Strata KAS 520香蕉视频直播�49 of which are still owned by LOR香蕉视频直播攁re now proposing to build an independent water treatment facility, with plans to hand over its operation to the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO). An architect is working on the plans and has agreed to attend a meeting with residents, and area politicians to present the proposal and discuss possible disaster relief funding.
The proposed system would only serve residents of Strata KAS 520, which has the advantage of owning the land surrounding its building香蕉视频直播攁 benefit not shared by other stratas at the resort.
Ormiston said frustrated homeowners approached Victoria for help, only to be told it香蕉视频直播檚 a private legal matter. She flatly disagrees. Since the province issues and licenses water utilities, she argues, it retains oversight responsibility.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a provincial government issue,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淔or the government to try to wash its hands of the problem and force citizens into litigation is abandonment on the provincial government香蕉视频直播檚 part.香蕉视频直播�
In a statement to Black Press Media, Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon acknowledged the difficult circumstances.
香蕉视频直播淚 recognize that this is a challenging situation and my hope is that everyone involved can work together to resolve the issue,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淯nfortunately, this may need to be done through the courts. In this case, an overseas owner has control, and we don香蕉视频直播檛 have the ability to intervene from the province.香蕉视频直播�
In the same statement, a Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship spokesperson explained that LOR residents have been told that they have options. They can ask their local government to provide water or apply for their own water licence to draw directly from the lake, avoiding the resort香蕉视频直播檚 private utility.
A cost estimate for a new system has been shared, but it could be expensive due to a smaller customer base.
Ormiston maintains the province has a responsibility to homeowners, who have gained support from RDCO director Wayne Carson, MP Dan Albas, and MLA Macklin McCall for their proposed independent system. The only person still missing from the conversation, she says, is B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Housing Minister.
香蕉视频直播淲here香蕉视频直播檚 our housing minister?香蕉视频直播� she asked. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a huge voice to advocate for us.香蕉视频直播�
She believes that, if support and approvals do come through soon, rebuilding could begin quickly.
香蕉视频直播淲ithin a year, absolutely,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Black Press Media contacted a DHi Holdings representative for comment but has yet to receive a response.
