Artistic rendering of the proposed KSAR and KFR Facility on Devick Road in Rayleigh. Photo Credit: TNRD
KAMLOOPS – Following approval by the Board of Directors, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has commenced an alternative approval process (AAP), seeking approval to borrow funds for construction of a proposed Regional Search and Rescue Hall and Training Facility and to fund operations of the proposed facility.
The facility would serve as the headquarters for Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) and be a regional training centre for Search and Rescue groups across the Thompson-Nicola region. The site for the proposed facility is in the Kamloops neighbourhood of Rayleigh, at 4420 Devick Rd, adjacent to the Yellowhead Highway.
As part of the AAP, residents in all 10 TNRD Electoral Areas and 11 Member Municipalities are being asked if they support borrowing up to $6.3 million over a 20-year loan period to fund construction of the Regional Search and Rescue Hall, and funding up to $100,000 annually for operating costs of the building. The estimated residential tax rate is $1.07 per $100,000 of assessed value; this means a property valued at $680,000 in the TNRD would expect to pay approximately $7.37 per year for capital and operating costs of this facility.
This proposal comes after KSAR approached the TNRD in late 2023 requesting assistance to establish a new, purpose-built hall and regional training centre. Currently, KSAR operates out of a building on Mission Flats Road in Kamloops that is inadequate for its operations.
The proposed facility is on land owned by the City of Kamloops and would be jointly used as a Search and Rescue Hall and training centre, and as Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) Firehall #5; the portion of the building to be used by KFR would be fully funded by the City of Kamloops, and is not included in this AAP process.
Source: tnrd.ca
