New maintenance deal for beach

RDNO’s electoral area advisory committee has approved spending $20,000 for beach maintenance services for Sandy Beach on Okanagan Lake.

It’s part of a new four-year agreement between the Regional District of North Okanagan and the Okanagan Indian Band for RDNO to manage the site on Lakeshore Road next to Kin Beach.

“On June 8, 2020, through direction of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, OKIB and RDNO entered into an agreement (ending December 31, 2024) that directs RDNO to manage the land and turn the land into an Electoral Area “B” & “C” local park with bylaw enforcement and amenities.The only part left out of the agreement is fire response,” said an RDNO staff report.

There have been public complaints that the beach is unsafe and not clean since an earlier deal between the band and City of Vernon expired 2018.