Construction on the redesigned Station Street Plaza in Oliver could begin as early as August, 2022.

Town council gave their approval on May 9 to the initial design for the redesigned area, including a 10,000 square-foot outdoor plaza complete with wooden benches and Adirondack chairs.

The town’s development services director Randy Houle told the Western that the goal is to have bids from interested contractors by the end of June.

The plaza will replace the former Centennial RV Park and other municipally-owned lots near the Coast Hotel.

The project is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million and grant funding will cover $600,000 of the costs.

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The plan for the plaza includes a proposed salmon viewing deck and a community pavilion that will have event and retail space, which would be built at a later date.

The viewing platform will also depend on provincial approval given the importance of the Okanagan River, according to Houle.

A plan to potentially save the existing mature trees in the area is included in the work currently underway.

Once the contract for the work has been put out for tender, the resulting bids will be brought back to council for approval.

The possible addition of a restaurant to the Coast Hotel is also not included in the initial phase of construction work.

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