An equestrian centre could have a difficult time getting out of the gate. Both the B.C. Lottery Corporation and the Agricultural Land Commission are reluctant to support a facility that would include a race track and gaming. That means the North Okanagan Regional District, which meets today, won’t likely fund a feasibility study to pursue the matter further. “There’s no sense spending a bunch more money if it’s not going to be successful,” said director Wayne Lippert. “We shouldn’t go into a full study.” Back in September, NORD decided not to commit to a $55,000 feasibility study until it heard whether the ALC would approve a facility on 100 acres in the Agricultural Land Reserve. BCLC was asked if it would endorse a proposed gaming centre. In a letter to the regional district, ALC chairperson Richard Bullock states that conversion of prime farm land to horse racing facilities is not consistent with the agency’s mandate to preserve farm land. “Alternately, there may be opportunity to utilize poorer land in the ALR for such facilities, or land that is compromised by pre-existing development,” he said. In terms of gaming, the BCLC refers to a 2006 study in the Thompson-Okanagan. “The study indicated sufficient market demand does not currently exist to warrant the addition of a community gaming centre in the Vernon/Armstrong area,” said Darryl Schiewe, vice-president of casinos and community gaming, in a letter. Equestrian proponents are disappointed but not surprised by the position of the ALC and BCLC. “We knew where the potential hang-ups were,” said Ed Woolley, Okanagan Equestrian Society president. “Unless we can resolve issues with the ALR, it would be hard to justify a feasibility study. We need a place to put it (facility ) even if a study shows it’s feasible.” Woolley believes the next step should include looking at potential sites on marginal farm land or property that is already developed.“It’s not the end of the process,” he said of the letters from the two government agencies.
Woolley is waiting to see how NORD directors react to the positions taken by the ALC and BCLC and whether they co-operate with the society. “There’s the possibility the regional district or some individuals could latch on to this and say they did their due diligence and then wash their hands of it.” If a site can’t be found for an equestrian centre, the society has suggested that the existing Kin Race Track be redeveloped to allow for racing and expanded community recreational activities. Lippert says he’s willing to consider that option. “I don’t like to close the door on anyone but for racing to be viable it needs help,” he said of revenue sources such as gaming. “It could stay there at Kin, but the viability would be in question.” NORD and the City of Vernon own Kin Race Track and the society must leave the property by the end of this year. The society has taken NORD and the city to court, claiming equestrian activities were guaranteed when most of track was turned over to the city in 1964 for free.
The society also claims NORD ignored an agreement for lease renewals. A tentative court date is set for June 2011.
1 comment:
B.C. Lottery Corporation and the Agricultural Land Commission are reluctant to support a facility that would include a race track and gaming.
When did the BCLC change it's position on Race Tracks and Gaming. Hastings Park and Cloverdale Race Track have both and the BCLC doesn't object to all the revenue they gain from same.
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