Boat launch at 8835 Okanagan Landing Road in Vernon. (Submitted photo/City of Vernon)

By Kevin Rothwell

Reconstruction in 2022

Okanagan Landing Road boat launch will stay closed

May 26, 2021 | 6:00 AM

It will be tougher to float your boat in Okanagan Lake this summer, after a motion to re-open the launch at 8835 Okanagan Landing Road was defeated at Vernon council on Tuesday.

The launch was closed in April following an inspection by City of Vernon staff.

“The safety of our citizens and visitors is the city’s top priority,” Kendra Kryszak, Manager, Parks and Public Spaces, said. “A number of issues have been identified at this site which pose safety risks due to deterioration. These include broken metal cables and concrete blocks, tripping hazards, structurally compromised concrete slab and erosion in the storm outfall. The city asks that water users respect the closure and access Okanagan Lake via other public access sites.”

Council requested, and received, confirmation from the Municipal Insurance Authority (MIA) that opening the launch would not void the city’s liability insurance.

“We have qualified staff saying close it, it’s dangerous, we have legal advice supporting our qualified staff saying it’s dangerous. Close it. How we are even having a conversation about re-opening? I don’t know. I don’t understand that, it doesn’t make sense,” Coun. Kelly Fehr said.

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The city’s lawyer suggested placing a warning sign onsite but also advised that hazard signage is only one part of liability management and may not significantly reduce legal risks.

“The advice we have actually says the opposite, that it does not void our insurance, that’s what it says,” Coun. Scott Anderson shot back at Fehr.

Fehr, Anderson and Coun. Akbal Mund played verbal ping pong over the wording before a motion to receive the report to council was called and passed.

Hazard warning sign (photo credit: City of Vernon)

The city does plan to rebuild the launch next year, at a cost of about $200,000.

Click here for a list of boat launches in Greater Vernon.