Infrastructure Supports Community Vision
Peachland's infrastructure is the foundation for providing vital services to the community such as drinking water, sanitation, transportation and recreation. These services contribute significantly to the vitality of the community, as well as to the economy of the region; supporting our vision of being a thriving, diversified and sustainable business community.
As this infrastructure ages it needs to be rehabilitated or replaced. Failure to plan adequately puts at risk the quality of the services the community currently enjoys, and ultimately could jeopardize the economic foundation enjoyed by residents and tourists. We're taking important steps to proactively care for this infrastructure in a sustainable manner, through an Asset Management Program.
What is Asset Management?
Asset management is a set of activities that help plan for the current and long-term investment needs of a community's infrastructure (also known as assets). Infrastructure includes categories such as roads, water systems, sewer systems and community buildings. Asset management helps answer questions such as:
- What infrastructure or assets do we own?
- What are our assets worth?
- What condition are they in?
- Where are we deficient?
- What assets will need to be replaced/repaired and when?
- What will it cost?
Peachland's Plans & Strategies
Council approved the 2023 Active Transportation Network Plan as a guiding framework for future improvements to Peachland's pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. The District received grant funding from the BC Active Transportation Grant Program to develop the plan and will implement recommendations as funding opportunities become available and development occurs.
BACKGROUND
In 2022, the District was successful in receiving grant funding from the BC Active Transportation Grant Program to develop an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP).
The main objective of this project has been to create a conceptual community-wide framework to improve connectivity for active transportation modes throughout Peachland (e.g. walking and cycling), as funding opportunities become available and development occurs over time.
The project team has been comprised of active transportation engineers and planners from Urban Systems, as well as Peachland’s Planning & Development, Engineering, Operations and Community Services departments. The project team has also included a local Trail of the Okanagans Society representative, who provided valuable contributions while helping to ensure the ATNP aligns with the inter-regional trail system.
COMMUNITY INPUT
Last summer, the project team began gathering community input about Peachland’s Active Transportation infrastructure. Two pop-up booths were assembled on Beach Avenue during the Canada Day long weekend to share project information and receive community feedback. Printed and online surveys with an interactive online map were published online, resulting in over 200 completed surveys.
The Active Transportation (AT) project team then reviewed and summarized all of the feedback received and began the process of drafting an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP). Using this public feedback, the team has relied upon best engineering practice from North America, provincial design standards, existing local plans, while applying localized AT solutions suitable for Peachland’s unique geography.
NEXT STEPS
Approving this concept-level ATNP is a key prerequisite for capital project grant eligibility, and an important first step required to apply for provincial grants to fund the construction of AT infrastructure. Most projects in the ATNP will require more detailed level of discussion and design, prior to construction.
Going forward, some AT infrastructure will be paid for by private developers through site and neighbourhood improvements, where applicable. The Planning department has provided valuable feedback into drafting the ATNP, to help ensure future development applications consider and incorporate AT connections and improvements.
The District’s Planning, Engineering and Operations departments have also collaborated in drafting the ATNP. When funding opportunities become available to improve or expand local infrastructure, the ATNP will be a reference tool. The ATNP will help to guide those improvements to ensure pedestrians and cyclists are supported on roadways, parks and other public facilities, wherever feasible.
The ATNP will be a valuable tool in strategic Highway safety discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). The ATNP highlights the importance for MoTI to expand AT connectivity and safety along Highway 97, including prioritizing safe pedestrian/cyclist highway crossings as MoTI designs future highway improvements.
The ATNP also aligns with plans for the “Westside Trail” project, a key link in an inter-regional “Trail of the Okanagans” project that has gained interest and support from Infrastructure Canada. Administration will be providing an update to Council on that project this coming summer.
Highway 97 - Peachland Transportation Study
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was adopted at the January 23, 2018 regular Council Meeting as the foundation for decision making on parks and recreation matters. It describes how the District can face the challenge of providing quality leisure services during the next ten (10) years and beyond.
The Parks Plan commenced on July 27, 2018, with the goal to undertake concept design work for Heritage, Cousins and Sanderson Parks. The project was intended to build on the findings of the 2018 Parks and Recreation Master Plan to determine highest and best use of these spaces, assess feasibility for parks amenities and development, and make recommendations for implementation. The Community Parks Concept Plan and Phasing Schedule for Heritage, Cousins and Sanderson Parks was approved on December 10, 2019. The final document was presented to Council on February 11, 2020. This plan is intended to be a resource for Council and staff to consider for future parks amenities and related grant application. Phasing schedule is dependent upon final project approval from Council.
The District of Peachland is currently working towards the goals of the 2015 Water Master Plan. A new Water Treatment Plan was completed in 2021 with help from government funds and grants, necessary to accomplish this 10 year goal.
- Water Master Plan 2007 Final
- Water Master Plan 2015 Amendment
- Peachland Creek Habitat and Sediment Source Assessment
- Water Treatment Plant and Reservoir Siting Options
- Peachland Creek Reservoir and Pump Station Predesign Final
- District of Peachland Bench and Pilot Scale Testing
- Water Master Plan Figure #10, Revision 1 - Concept 3
Watershed Awareness
The key to ensuring clean, safe and reliable drinking water is to understand the drinking water supply from the source to the consumers' tap. This knowledge includes understanding the general characteristics of the water and the land surrounding the water source, as well as mapping all the real and potential threats to the water quality. These threats can be natural, such as seasonal droughts or flooding, or created by human activities such as forestry, cattle grazing or recreational activities in the watershed.
Source Protection Plan – identifying hazards and vulnerabilities to drinking water quality and quantity and developing strategies to eliminate, minimize or mitigate hazards to provide a safe and secure drinking water source. View the report below.
- WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN FINAL REPORT - MAY 20, 2010
- For maps and appendices, please contact operations@peachland.ca
Watersheds filter, drain and transport and collect water from a variety of sources. When we talk about much more than just water and the water cycle: we are talking about soil, trees, rocks, grasses and everything making up the land. Watersheds are essentially everything that a droplet of water touches or goes through in order to get back to a stream, river or lake. Throughout that journey, a drop of water may come into contact with a variety of obstacles and contaminants.
Guidelines when in the Watershed
- Everyone Lives Downstream: Recognize that you are in a watershed and that domestic water is supplied to residents downstream
- Minimize soil disturbances: Stay on designated roads and trails to avoid damage to soft soils.
- Avoid Wetlands and Marshy Areas: Tracks and ruts made will not repair themselves. Make a point of knowing where these areas are, since some are only visibly wet in spring. Long term sediment damage can occur even when it is dry
- Garbage Disposal: Pack out what you pack in. Don't leave garbage behind.
- Where washrooms are provided please use them. If facilities are not available, make sure you are far away from streams, wetlands and lakes. Bury solid waste.
- Reservoirs and Dams: Keep all motorized vehicles off dam structures and approaches. A simple rut can cause damage to a dam structure and create an emergency situation.
- Fishing and Boating: Use electric motors only rather than gasoline for fishing and boating on a reservoir.
- No camping or campfires on the dam structures and approaches. Respect signage and gates.