The Westbank Chamber of Commerce has given tentative support to Crystal Mountainô ambitious $125 Million 10-year expansion proposal.

Ue had some questions about the environmental impact and the economical impact, points out chamber treasurer Bernie McCallum.

„t looks like the environmental impact study was done as part of the provincial approval. It sounds like there will be economic spinoff for all of Westbank with more visitors and their spending and the resort will be part of the (Central Okanagan) regional district tax base.

McCallum, who works for Air Liquide in Westbank, says a resort development of this scale and calibre will help Westbank which tends to be regarded as a suburb of Kelowna define its own identity as a ski and tourist destination.

Crystal Mountain is located just northwest of Westbank.

While at first blush the plan for more downhill ski terrain, lifts, golf course, hotels, condos, shops and buildings lots is exciting, there have been concerns.

Peachland council is concerned about the developmentô impact on the communityô watershed, the Peachland Sportsmenô Association says the golf course will cover mule deer range and the Telemark Cross Country Ski Club doesn want its trails eliminated by the expansion.

To address concerns, Crystal has embarked on a public relations campaign that included a luncheon with the chamber and Westbank Rotary Club recently and a public open house set for July 19, 4-7 p.m. at the Westbank Community Hall.

Crystal Mountain is currently a small ski hill that runs December through March with three lifts and a daylodge.

But the man who has the license to operate Crystal David Tschanz of Lenzerheide Valbella, Switzerland envisions a much bigger, year-round resort.

xhis is a dream we`e hoping to fulfil, points out Crystalô director of marketing John Armstrong.

Ue need this development to operate as a viable business.

As a small resort Crystal is open Thursdays through Sundays December through March and captures very little school and destination skiing and can compete with big Valley resorts such as Big White, Silver Star and Apex. By expanding, it can tap into a much bigger market.

The 10-year plan calls for nine more lifts including a gondola and two high-speed quads wide swaths of additional ski terrain, an 18-hole golf course, three hotels with a total of 300 rooms, a new daylodge, 300 condo and townhouse units, 355 building lots, restaurants, conference centre, shops and summer season facilities for mountain biking, hiking, tennis and playing fields.

xhe golf course is the No. 1 priority, stresses project manager Oberto Oberti of Pheidias Project Management in Vancouver.

„tô important to create a year-round resort as soon as possible.

Crystal is in discussions with a couple of independent course developers and operators that could start building the course by the spring of 2002.

Construction on the new daylodge and the first of the building lots could come on stream in the spring of 2002 as well.

xhis is a 10-year plan that depends on investment and the market, explains Oberti.