A tentative land-exchange agreement has been reached between the Government of B.C. and Westbank First Nation.

As part of an agreement in 2009, Westbank First Nation gave reserve land to the Province to construct the Westside Rd. Interchange. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure agreed to provide replacement lands and has been working closely with the First Nation to identify suitable lands.

The package of lands and cash being considered includes four parcels of Crown or private land and $1.5 million in cash to be used for mutually agreed-upon, future land purchases. Parcels of land in the proposed exchange include:

• Two private agricultural properties within the City of Kelowna on Spiers Rd. and Hereron Rd.
• One private property on the eastern shores of Lower Arrow Lake near Fauquier on Starlite Rd.
• One Crown land parcel located east of Kelowna along McCulloch Rd., adjacent to lands held by Westbank First Nation at Medicine Hill.

The Westside Interchange project was part of an agreement the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Westbank First Nation entered into in 2005, to work together to facilitate Highway 97 upgrade projects through Westbank First Nation reserves. Projects completed under the agreement include the William R. Bennett Bridge, the Campbell Rd. and Westside Rd. interchanges and the Sneena Overpass.

More information about the Westside Rd. Interchange project can be found at:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/okanaganvalley/projects/westsideroad_interchange/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241