SERVICES & UTILITIES

Residents Benefit from Day One

Evidence of the extensive research, planning and design of the Sun Rivers Golf Resort Community is clear when you explore the way in which municipal services and utilities are provided to Sun Rivers Residents. "It's very simple", says Georg Schurian, President of Sun Rivers, "when you are building a premier master planned resort community the infrastructure, utilities, and services must meet a very high standard. This is what we have done."

Through the unique Master Development and Servicing Agreement, transfer payment arrangements between the Kamloops Indian Band, the City and Sun Rivers as well as the creation of one of the first private multi-utility companies in Canada, Sun Rivers sets a new standard for the comprehensive delivery of municipal services and utilities on leasehold lands. "All the checks and balances are in place to ensure residents have the same comfort as with traditional utility companies. Utilities are regulated through British Columbia Utilities Commission which ensures that the appropriate capital, reserves and operating procedures are in place to protect the interests of consumers," explains Georg Schurian.

In order to provide consistency and quality of services, Sun Rivers has arranged to purchase sanitary sewer, water, gas, and electricity from other utility providers. Along with geothermal heating and cooling Sun Rivers delivers utilities to individual residents as well as maintaining the roads, parks, sidewalks, streetlighting, boulevards and infrastructure. Sun Rivers residents have the same services available to them as the residents of the City of Kamloops for the same user fees as paid by the residents of the City. The services include 911, fire protection, police protection, public transit, library access, schools and busing, paramedic and ambulance service, hospitals and public health facilities in the City and the Province.

The Kamloops Indian Band has negotiated an agreement with the City of Kamloops to "tie in" the sanitary sewer requirements from the Sun Rivers Development into the City's existing facilities. This "City of Kamloops" sewage disposal and treatment facility will service all of the Sun Rivers needs well into the future.

Sun Rivers residents enjoy two water supplies, a "potable water" supply (for drinking and domestic use), and an environmentally friendly "irrigation water" supply for residential landscape care.

The precedent setting Master Servicing and Development Agreement sets out clearly the process by which taxes for services are levied. Sun Rivers residents pay reasonably comparable property taxes to the City of Kamloops based on assessed values determined by the BC Assesssment Authority and qualify for the Home Owner Grants as would any other resident of Kamloops. The unique agreement ensures Sun Rivers residents will enjoy a high standard of services into the future.

Sun Rivers residents receive one convenient monthly bill for all their utility services. With geothermal heating and cooling it is estimated that homeowners are saving up to 50% as compared to high-efficiency natural gas heating and electrical air conditioning. "Sun Rivers residents pay a geothermal access fee which over time covers the costs of the drilling, installation and maintenance of the geothermal ground loops," says Georg Schurian. "By bundling all of the utilities and services under one multi-utility company we are able to deliver high end services at less cost and more conveniently. Our residents benefit from day one."