Two committees formed for health centre planning

WATER SERVICES INSTALLED ON SITE

The current Sun Peaks Health Centre will be replaced by a new facility, likely in early 2017. – File Photo

Two committees have been formed in anticipation of the construction of the new health centre.

Councillor Mario Pozza, a representative from Sun Peaks Resort LLP, a representative from the Sun Peaks Health Association, and chief administrative officer Rob Bremner or finance officer Nicky Braithwaite will sit on the construction committee and also a standing committee for the health centre.

The construction committee will oversee decisions around the building of the facility until its opening. The standing committee will make recommendations on how the clinic should be managed, daily operations, capital projects, securing equipment and conducting a doctor search once the facility opens. Should a doctor move to Sun Peaks, they will also be appointed to the committee.

“Council’s overseeing administration and rules and regulations within the municipality, but we’re not experts on the operation of a medical facility so we need a committee that will get the people who are actively involved and really represent the professional side of medical services to give us recommendations,” said Mayor Al Raine.

The municipality is continuing to work on securing a contractor to build the facility, but preliminary work has begun on the site. Excavation to install the water and wastewater services began on June 29, with expected service disruptions to The Peaks, Sun Mountain Villas, Alpine Greens and Sunburst Estates. The tie in to the existing water main is expected the week of July 18, however the final date is yet to be confirmed. The actual interruption of water service could be as long as six to eight hours, according to Sun Peaks Utilities.
The goal is still to have the new health centre open in December. Once construction is complete, equipping the facility and working to attract a full-time doctor will become the top priorities.

“I still think the success and speed of services, the community’s ability to get this health centre up and functioning well will be directly related to how much money we can put into equipment,” Raine said. “If we can get x-ray and ultrasound and things like that happening there, then first of all the level of services goes up, secondly I think it’s going to be more attractive in terms of bringing a doctor in.”

Update:

The opening of the health centre will be delayed until early 2017 months as negotiations continue to ensure the building remains within the budget with the same overall vision, according to Bremner.

“It’s just design, working within the budget that we have and still maintain the full vision which is the square footage that we require in order to make this work,” Bremner said.

The timeline is unclear but the opening is likely to be in February. Bremner said the plan is to have the building structure closed up by the end of October so the internal work can be done through the winter months.