By Dominic Abassi

Plan to revamp Nanaimo marina aims to create hub of activity

Nov 22, 2018 | 5:19 PM

NANAIMO — A planned $15-million “total rebuild” of Nanaimo’s downtown marina includes ambitious plans to increase commercial offerings and draw foot traffic down from the waterfront walkway.

The Port of Nanaimo unveiled a design plan for the new boat basin marina on Thursday, after nearly a year of consultations with stakeholders and behind-the-scenes work.

Port co-chief executive officer Mike Davidson said a key piece of the plan involves creating a destination for foot traffic on the water below the Wharfinger’s office. He said they want to expand the number of restaurants and commercial options in the area, as well as locate adventure tour operators all in one spot.

Davidson said the Newcastle and Protection Island ferry docks might relocate into that spot as well.

“We’ve heard about the popularity of the waterfront walkway and we’re looking to build on that and create a public space that people can come to and have an opportunity to eat food, go on tours and connect with Newcastle and Protection,” Davidson said. “It brings people to a central point and creates a hub of activity in the centre of the jewel that is Nanaimo harbour.”

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Davidson said the plan increases moorage space by 50 per cent to 10,500 feet and maintains the balance between tourism, personal and commercial business uses of the harbour.

The plan will see the fuel dock repositioned on the outside of the harbour and inner docks replaced to include slips to create more space.

Davidson said there haven’t been detailed talks about impacts to future moorage rates.

“Obviously there will be some kind of adjustment to reflect the newer facilities and services that will be available, but they’ll be market-based.”

Davidson said the Port took a different approach this time, after facing stiff backlash to a previous proposal to have a private company take over operations of the marina and lead the rebuild.

“It was a message that was delivered loud and clear to us that the community did not want the marina to be operated by a private lessee. We took our time with this now and wanted to involve as many people as possible so we could do it right.”

A request for funding was sent to the federal government and Davidson said timing of that approval will dictate when work begins. Once funding is in place, he said the project will be finished in phases over three-to-five years.

The boat basin marina currently features several aging docks for numerous users, including fishermen, pleasure craft boaters, a float plane business, Protection Island residents and a pair of restaurants.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi