By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Nov 19 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
A residential development and an industrial park could be left
on the sidelines because of a lack of water. The Greater Vernon Services Commission board decided Thursday to not provide water to two projects outside of its boundaries until some infrastructure works are done and it has a sense of its long-term water supply. "We can get an application for 1,200 homes and we're not sure if we can handle it," said chairman Gary Corner. "The projects are getting bigger and bigger and they're having an effect on us." One application for water is in Spallumcheen while 
the other is on the Okanagan Indian Reserve. GVSC will not entertain them until a study on upland water sources is done, agricultural metering is completed in 2008 and the Duteau Creek clarification system is installed. Deloy Routley 
has considered a residential subdivision on land he owns on L&A Cross Road in Spallumcheen, but it could also become an industrial park. Routley was disappointed with GVSC's decision. "It's sad the politicians would balk at providing more jobs other than big box stores," he said. "If we don't have industrial land, we're passing up jobs for our community." Routley says there are other water options available on site and GVSC's actions wouldn't deter him. On the Indian reserve, near Goose Lake, a developer has been seeking water for a 1,500-unit residential development, plus a golf course. 
Director Wayne Lippert supported the motion to not extend water outside of GVSC's boundaries at this time. "Water licenses will be tough to get in the future so we need things in 
place so we know what we have for capacity," he said. Opposition came from director Cliff Kanester. "These areas won't wait forever. If they are put into a specified area, they could go ahead and they could pay (for infrastructure)," he said. "If we're simply going to say no, it's the wrong-headed idea all together." Corner doesn't believe GVSC is sending a message that development isn't wanted. "The intention is we have to decide if we are comfortable supplying water to the customers we already have before we move outside our boundaries," he said.
A residential development and an industrial park could be left
on the sidelines because of a lack of water. The Greater Vernon Services Commission board decided Thursday to not provide water to two projects outside of its boundaries until some infrastructure works are done and it has a sense of its long-term water supply. "We can get an application for 1,200 homes and we're not sure if we can handle it," said chairman Gary Corner. "The projects are getting bigger and bigger and they're having an effect on us." One application for water is in Spallumcheen while 
the other is on the Okanagan Indian Reserve. GVSC will not entertain them until a study on upland water sources is done, agricultural metering is completed in 2008 and the Duteau Creek clarification system is installed. Deloy Routley 
has considered a residential subdivision on land he owns on L&A Cross Road in Spallumcheen, but it could also become an industrial park. Routley was disappointed with GVSC's decision. "It's sad the politicians would balk at providing more jobs other than big box stores," he said. "If we don't have industrial land, we're passing up jobs for our community." Routley says there are other water options available on site and GVSC's actions wouldn't deter him. On the Indian reserve, near Goose Lake, a developer has been seeking water for a 1,500-unit residential development, plus a golf course. 
Director Wayne Lippert supported the motion to not extend water outside of GVSC's boundaries at this time. "Water licenses will be tough to get in the future so we need things in 
place so we know what we have for capacity," he said. Opposition came from director Cliff Kanester. "These areas won't wait forever. If they are put into a specified area, they could go ahead and they could pay (for infrastructure)," he said. "If we're simply going to say no, it's the wrong-headed idea all together." Corner doesn't believe GVSC is sending a message that development isn't wanted. "The intention is we have to decide if we are comfortable supplying water to the customers we already have before we move outside our boundaries," he said. 
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