Impact
Flooding and Natural Springs
Kelowna Springs is located on seven natural springs, which feed Mill Creek. The golf course is located on a natural watershed, which has a very high water table and acts as a catchment for Mill Creek. Denciti’s own report states that at least 2-3 meters of fill will be required in order to build up these lands for development. This will require a huge amount of fill, as well as gravel, and will likely compress the underlying grounds which may cause damage to the underlying springs and aquifers.
When these 106 acres are covered in concrete, the water that naturally runs westward from the hills will be blocked on the eastern side of the development, likely flooding the surrounding farmland and the adjacent residents, rendering septic fields and wells useless, and causing great hardship to the farmers who work tirelessly to feed Kelowna and bring tourists to this city.
In the event of a large storm, it is likely that whatever filtration system is put in place for these lands will be overcome, and silt and gravel will not only flood farms and houses, but also run into Mill Creek. There is also a concern that, by blocking the natural absorption of water by this beautiful greenspace, the City of Kelowna will be exposing additional residential lands, close to Mill Creek, to flooding.
Other Elements
Other elements that affect residential and farm neighborhoods due to industrial developments are noise nuisance, bright lights, smoke/emissions, and smell along with light, air and water pollution due to the huge trucks and heavy machinery right next to farmland.
This is inevitable pollution, both air and ground that will affect farmers crops.
Some industrial complexes operate 24 hours a day. Machinery and truck noise can likely be an issue at nighttime, not only disturbing residents in and around the area, but the wildlife and protected species that live there also.
The city allowed the sale of Shadow Ridge for an 'Airport Industrial Park'. Now this area already has an Industrial Park to the north and if the Kelowna Springs is changed, this entire area will be Industrial with a small amount of farmland left.