British Columbia鈥檚 Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation has responded to concerns raised by Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes about a proposed gravel pit, approved for the Garnet Valley area of Summerland.

The mine site, at 27410 Garnet Valley Rd., has resulted in plenty of outrage from council and within the community.

The application for the gravel pit was presented in December 2023 and has since received approval despite opposition from Summerland council and the community.

On Sept. 25, members of Summerland Council and staff met with staff from the ministry to discuss the gravel pit approval.

Following that meeting, Holmes said there were concerns about the approval process for the mine, adding that the ministry did not follow its own guidelines.

鈥淭here were flaws in the process,鈥� he said at the time. 鈥淲e want the province to address these flaws.鈥�

However, the ministry disagrees with Holmes鈥� assessment.

In a letter to Holmes, dated Oct. 25, Nini Long, executive director of, regional operations branch with the ministry, said the permit decision will remain.

鈥淲hile I acknowledge that we could have done a better job in our communications regarding this application, I don鈥檛 have reason to believe that there were 鈥榮ignificant errors or omissions鈥� in the adjudication of the application, as suggested in your letter,鈥� Long said. 

鈥淎ll relevant factors that are within the scope of the Mines Act, were reviewed and considered.鈥�

Long added that a Reasons for Decision document will be shared with the municipality, to provide a fuller account of how the decision maker considered the different issues that were presented.

The opposition to the proposed gravel operation extends beyond the municipal council.

The Penticton Indian Band, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, the BC Wildlife Federation and residents and businesses near the proposed site have all spoken out in opposition to the location.

In addition, Steve Lornie of the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association has spoken out about the effects of the gravel pit on businesses and residences in the area, as well as the effects on tourism.

Lornie has sent a letter to Josie Osborne, then the provincial Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, criticizing the decision.

鈥淭his decision of your ministry is destructive. It is unacceptable to the residents and agritourism businesses in Garnet Valley, and to the vast majority of Summerlanders,鈥� he said in the letter.

A legal fund has also been launched in an effort to challenge the decision to approve the gravel pit.

Holmes said the Reasons for Decision document has been received and has been sent to the municipality鈥檚 lawyers. He added that the efforts to stop the gravel pit will continue.

鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to look at our legal options,鈥� he said. 

鈥淭he province feels that the concerns have been addressed, but we feel that they haven鈥檛 been addressed adequately.鈥�