The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Shuswap (RCMSAR) station is garnering support from local government to secure provincial approval in the location of their new boat house in the Sicamous channel.
Under Section 11 of the Water Sustainability Act, government approval is required for 鈥渃hanges in and about a stream.鈥� At its Dec. 13 meeting the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) board received a letter from, Sicamous council, requesting a letter of support in getting that approval.
Speaking to the issue, Mayor Colleen Anderson explained how important the facility is, with RCMSAR conducting around 55 missions a year, including the recent incident when a semi truck plunged off the Bruhn Bridge. She added the current construction on the new bridge and traffic being rerouted along Highway 97A could increase the risk of such accidents and the need for water rescues.
鈥淚 just want to reiterate and stress how important this facility is. They have been given space in the Sicamous channel, they are in the district water tenure,鈥� Anderson said at the CSRD meeting. 鈥淪o the support letter is really important that we keep this project going, and keep search and rescue in the water and their boats ready to go all year.鈥�
The board unanimously approved the motion to provide a letter of support.
