The Douglas Lake Cattle Company in the Nicola Valley is appealing a court ruling on access to two lakes near its property.

The appeal comes after Justice Joel Groves decided in Kamloops court on Dec. 7 to order public access to Minnie and Stoney Lakes, which ruled in favour of the Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club.

Club director Rick McGowan says it’s not yet clear what the cattle giant is asking for in its appeal.

“They have to go before a judge or two judges to request an appeal, and that means they have to try to influence a judge to say that they have found that the Judge, Justice Groves, erred in the letter of the law and therefore they should be allowed to appeal his decision,” he says.

“Apparently that could take up to a month or two months for us just to find that out. You know, the wheels of justice move very slowly.”

McGowan says the non-profit club has now spent more than $270,000 fighting in court for public access to public lakes. The club also has filed a lawsuit where it has named the DLCC, Corbett Lake Lodge and the provincial government claim they have blocked access to Corbett Lake, located just south of Merritt next to the Okanagan Connector.

The Douglas Lake Cattle Company did not immediately respond for a request for comment.

(Photo: Stoney Lake Lodge Facebook)