City looking to develop second phase of Tournament Capital Ranch

NEWS/ CITY HALL — Approval by the Agricultural Land Commission is all that stands between the City and the start of work on phase two of the Tournament Capital Ranch.

A multi-purpose exhibition centre for agricultural trade shows and events, a destination water park, a public nature trail and a picnic area are among the amenities up for consideration in the second phase. Phase one included the slo-pitch and rugby fields that currently host sports events at the facility, located on a former military base north of Rayleigh on the Yellowhead Highway.

The exhibition centre and water park aren’t permitted uses with the Agricultural Land Reserve, so council will vote Tuesday on applying for an exclusion. A report from parks director Byron McCorkell says most remediation work has been completed on the land that would be used for the second phase.

The Kamloops Exhibition Association has been without a facility since the former KXA on the Tk’emlups reserve was taken over by the Band and converted to other uses.

A developer has proposed a destination water park at the TCR and has agreed to pay the cost of removing contaminants from that part of the site.

“In addition to providing a recreation facility for community members to enjoy, the water system that the developer would need to build for the water park could also help support the proposed agricultural uses on site,” says McCorkell’s report.