An appeal case over access to public lakes in the Nicola Valley will be heard in Kamloops court early in the spring.

Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club director Rick McGowan says the appeal comes after a Supreme Court Justice ruled in December of 2018 that access be granted to Minnie and Stoney lakes near Merritt, which had been blocked with gates by the Douglas Lake Cattle Company.

“Right now, we’re in the appeal process. Douglas Lake is appealing the access to the lakes and the widths of the road and the actual locations of the roads on the ground. The BC Government is appealing the special costs. Our club is appealing because the actual location of the access to the lakes was not identified clearly enough, and we’re trying to clear that up.”

McGowan says those two parties and his club have not had any dialogue.

“Douglas Lake Cattle Company and the BC Government were in communication trying to sort out the access and location of roads, etcetera, and we were supposed to be part of that process but we weren’t. So we are at the point where we have to deal with it in the appeal process.”

The BC Cattlemens Association and BC Outdoor Recreation Council have also been respectively granted intervenor status  in the court case, McGowan says, which he says will increase public interest for situation.

The case will be heard on March 30 and 31.

(Photo: Stoney Lake Lodge)