PROJECTS
Current Regional District Projects
Boundary Agricultural & Food System Project
Phase 1 will rewrite the 2011 Agriculture Plan to reflect the many changes in crops, technique, climate, economics, demographics, processing & marketing. Phase 2 will add a Food Systems plan which will look at the ability of the region to feed itself (we currently import almost all the food we consume) & access to healthy food where money is an issue.
There’ll be extensive public consultation on both phases, beginning May 4-6 with farm visits & open houses. See www.rdkb.com for more information.
Trail Master Plan Development
Consultants have been hired to identify the economic, cultural & societal benefits of developing a plan for the Boundary. There are opt out points in the plan if the RDKB doesn’t see value in being directly involved. If it goes through all phases, there will be extensive public & stakeholder consultation. The end result will be short, medium & long term plans for the trail systems, as well as evaluation of the role resource roads play in our area.
Feasibility Study for Community Centre at Big White
The year-round population at Big White is growing. Residents & businesses are working to turn the mountain into a year-round community. An important component of any community is a community centre. A survey of all residents, non-resident property owners & pass holders has been done to create a wish list for a centre. The next stage is to settle on a design & to cost the project. There will be a referendum in the Fall to determine whether voters support the taxation required to build a centre.
Organics Curbside Collection
Starting July 1st, you’ll be able to put your organics at the curbside weekly, alongside your garbage. Green bins will be distributed to residents. There is no cost for pickup of green bins. We’ll continue to pay $3 per bag/can of garbage. Past experience has shown about a 40% reduction in the amount of garbage we create, if the organics are removed. This will include things like leftovers, meat, bones, tissue paper, diapers, dog poop, baking, etc. It doesn’t include yard & garden waste.
Development of West Boundary Website
The idea to create this website came out of the frustration that all of us feel when we want to organize & communicate our events. We have great plans for making it an easy to use resource for residents of W. Boundary. Send us your ideas!
Kettle River Watershed Work
The Watershed Management Plan was published in 2014, after a few years of public consultation & research. We’re now in the implementation stages of the plan. Current priorities are to determine how work will be governed & funded, and development of a drought management plan. See www.kettleriver.ca to see the plan details, the research papers and current activities.
Kettle River Fire Service Development
A brand new pumper truck has been purchased. It’s come in at a lower cost than budgeted. We’ll share the cost after it arrives, as there may be additional costs to get it to our area. RDKB staff are working with the Province on use of the old Forward Attack Base on Hwy 3. It looks like an application for non-farm use will have to be made to the ALC before building can start. This could take several months. The RDKB & Village of Midway have agreed on a contract that defines the money & service arrangements between our jurisdictions. These should be approved in May. Taxes are lower for 2017 than for future years, when the building is completed.
Meat Processing Project
The RDKB was successful in getting a $10,000 Rural Dividend grant to investigate ways to improve meat processing capacity & marketing for the Boundary. The goal of this project is to apply for larger grants for infrastructure, equipment & marketing. The consultant, Abra Brynne, is also a consultant on our Ag/Food System Project. She helped both abattoirs in the Boundary with licensing. She is currently the president of Kootenay Co-op in Nelson, and she’s been involved with several food systems organizations over the last 30 years.
Community Emergency Preparedness Committee
This is a group of residents from the W. Boundary who meet every few months to plan community based emergency preparedness. The group was started after the 2015 fire. We look at what we can do on our own properties, within our neighbourhoods and in the region. We advocate to different levels of government on issues that make emergency response & recovery more community friendly.
Wildfire Interface Mitigation
Mt. Baldy has been approved for a Forest Enhancement Society grant. Big White has made an application for the same funds. Other communities want to access funds to protect their communities as well. We’re all feeling vulnerable after the fire.
Official Community Plan (OCP)
Work is in process on a land use plan for the rural Bridesville area. This covers from the Canyon Bridge to Sidley, to the border and the foothills of Mt. Baldy. The steering committee that is overseeing this work includes area residents, a member of Planning Dept. staff & the Area Director. This committee will soon be developing a survey for residents & property owners. They’ll organize the material & prepare for public consultation at various stages in the planning.
Please contact the Director for Area E-West Boundary if you want more information about these projects.