West Kelowna has its challenges but the community is meeting them head on.
That was the message from Mayor Gord Milsom during a “State of the City Address” during a Greater Westside Board of Trade luncheon on May 8.
“We’re growing rapidly, we’re extremely busy, but we’re getting a lot done,” Milsom told reporters after his speech.
The city’s population is expected to grow to more than 57,000 residents by 2040, but Milsom said staff are planning for 67,000.
“It’s an aggressive number,” the mayor admitted. “But it’s better to plan for a higher potential number of residents than a lower number.”
Along with that growth comes demands on housing, road networks, protective and mental health services, and infrastructure.
Milsom said he wants the provincial government to step up in some of those areas.
“We need support from BC Housing so we can serve the needs of our lower-income seniors, families, and the homeless. We need more investment in mental health services on the Westside.”
Milsom added that the province needs to adhere to its responsibility to provide RCMP officers, pointing out that the city has added 17 members to the province’s one over the last several years.
The mayor also expressed frustration over the slow process of obtaining a redundant power supply for his community.
“They (BC Hydro) were supposed to confirm a leading alternative last year. It’s unbelievable how slow they are. When the time is right I will go to Victoria and meet with the minister.”
Only one hydro line services much of West Kelowna, Peachland and Summerland. It has been threatened twice by wildfires.
Another project that is taking some time is the removal of the couplet through Westbank Centre and moving Highway 97 to Dobbin Road.
“We continue to meet with the Ministry of Transportation, but we’re a long way from activity there,” Milsom noted.
The mayor said the city is working with the province to structure the road network to coincide with the changes that will come to the couplet.
Milsom pointed to a list of accomplishments showing West Kelowna’s prosperity including the up-and-running Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant, the recently completed Boucherie multi-use pathway, and the establishment of the new economic development corporation.
Staff and council are in the process of moving into the new city hall, and projects underway include the Fire Hall #32 replacement, a purpose-built operations yard, and a supportive/transitional housing facility.
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