The idea of a walkway connecting the Departure Bay ferry terminal to the beach on the other wise of the bay is being explored by Nanaimo city council. (City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

SURVEY SAYS

$30m Departure Bay walkway project earns overwhelming public support

Jul 27, 2021 | 5:59 AM

NANAIMO — Residents of the Harbour City appear keen for a walkable route linking the ferry terminal to the beach in Departure Bay.

An ambitious and costly project, projected to be between $25 and $30 million, was subject to a survey of residents over nearly three weeks in June. It was the latest step in linking the ferry terminal to the beach around the Departure Bay coastline.

Bill Corsan, city director of community development, told Council’s governance and priorities committee on Monday, July 26, the project garnered strong support among the 2,500 people who responded to the survey.

“They’ve seen the videos, they’ve seen the images, they’ve seen the cost…just under 80 per cent of the public still supports it…so it’s certainly a project that is of interest to the citizen of Nanaimo and might be worth future consideration.”

Fifteen per cent of the respondents said they did not support the project, with nine per cent of survey responses indicating they wouldn’t use the walkway at all.

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Approximately 41 per cent of all responses were from residents in the Departure Bay area, including 123 immediate neighbours to the project. A vast majority of total responses came from people who had not participated in a previous public feedback opportunity in 2017.

The proposed walkway comprises of 13 kilometres of paths with dedicated spaces for cyclists and walkers.

Renderings from the City are modelled similar to the seawall in Vancouver’s English Bay and Stanley Park.

Top uses for the walkway, according to the survey, were exercise, connecting with nature and socializing with friends and family.

A timeline for the project is still tentative at best. Detailed plans and drawings must be completed before funding sources through borrowing and government grants are sourced.

Current estimates see construction beginning in the fall of 2024.

A referendum to approve borrowing is the likely path, either in conjunction with or following the 2022 municipal election.

“If that was approved by the electorate then in the spring of 2023…we’d be in the position to do the property acquisitions to do that final detailed design and submit all the applications to the province and federal government for their approval,” Corsan said.

Corsan was optimistic several government grants could drive the amount borrowed down and not leave Nanaimo taxpayers on the hook for the full cost.

Nanaimo CAO Jake Rudolph said the walkway is one of a few major capital projects forecast for the coming years.

He added priorities must be decided upon with certain projects required for the City to maintain services.

“The RCMP detachment upgrade, the planning for the dates back to 2009. The operations centre, the public works facility on Labieux (Rd.), that facility is in need of really a complete redo and an upgrade to meet current needs and standards.”

More details on both the detachment and public works facility are expected in the fall, which will influence the path forward for the walkway project.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley