The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) has concluded the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for the proposed Swan Lake Wastewater Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3069, 2026.
The AAP was undertaken to seek elector approval to borrow up to 4.8 million dollars to help fund the construction of the North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project, and the cost of the borrowing, both principal and interest, was to be covered by a previously approved Okanagan Basin Water Board sewer facilities grant. Through an AAP, if 10% or more eligible electors out of the total number of electors established for the approval process submit response forms indicating their opposition, the approval fails.
Following the close of the AAP on July 3, 2026, the number of valid Elector Response Forms received exceeded the required threshold of 10% of eligible electors. As a result, the AAP was unsuccessful, and the RDNO cannot proceed with adopting the loan authorization bylaw through the Alternative Approval Process.
The proposed borrowing was intended to support the RDNO's North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project, which aims to develop a regional wastewater system serving portions of Electoral Areas B and C. The project is intended to address long-standing wastewater management challenges in the Swan Lake area and support environmental protection and future growth in the region. The Board of Directors will receive the official results at the July 22 meeting.
The RDNO is reviewing its options and next steps for this project. For more information on the Swan Lake Wastewater Recovery Project, visit www.rdno.ca.
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For media inquiries:
Stacey Raftus, Communications Officer
communications@rdno.ca