The province finally commits to upgrading Belleville Street docks
$17.4M for new docks in harbour ‘critical’ start to Victoria’s gateway
It wasn’t the new terminal the city has been waiting decades for, nor was there a guarantee it would happen any time soon. But a provincial commitment made Thursday to rebuild the docks at the Belleville Street terminal is being seen as a very good start to establishing a new gateway, according to its tenants.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced the province has entered into an agreement with Black Ball, which operates the Coho car ferry, and Clipper Navigation to fund a $17.4-million upgrade to the waterside of the terminal.
During a press conference, Stone acknowledged that while they were touting the funding as a major milestone, it was just the first of a three-phase process that will finally see a new combined terminal established on the site.
“Many governments have talked about doing this. I’m so proud that today we are actually doing it,” Stone said. “It’s critical this important piece of transportation infrastructure is fixed starting with safety upgrades to the Black Ball wharves and repairs to the existing Clipper wharves.
“Down the road, more work will need to be done to define the Belleville Street terminal at that key entry point.”
This phase of the project will see Black Ball rebuild its docks over the next two years, replace the dolphins and car ramps, improve U.S. Customs facilities and establish covered walkways for passengers.
Clipper will repair and upgrade its wharves over the winter.
Both ferries bring thousands of tourists into Victoria’s harbour every year from Washington state.
Stone said phase two will see improved access to the site, and the third phase will be the development of a vision for a new and coordinated terminal facility.
Stone said while discussions with stakeholders, including the City of Victoria, First Nations and the tenants are ongoing, there is no definitive timeline to establish what a new Belleville Street terminal will eventually look like.
He also didn’t have a budget for the process.
One of the biggest pieces of the announcement was Stone noting his ministry is working on long-term leases with both Clipper and Coho, which would give the companies the security they need to be able to invest in terminal upgrades. Both companies recently signed short-term lease extensions with the province.
“This is a big step. We have a dock that’s on its last legs and now we are going to be able to build a dock for the future. And I’m hoping we are negotiating a lease for long-term certainty, then the next step is the new terminal,” said Black Ball chief executive Ryan Burles.
In 2012, Black Ball signed a 30-year lease with three 10-year extension options with the Port of Port Angeles.
“Preparing these docks for the future is an essential part of a sound foundation for a revitalized Belleville Street terminal,” Burles said.
Meredith Tall, founder and chief executive of Clipper, echoed those sentiments noting Thursday marked a milestone.
“This is just the beginning [of Belleville rejuvenation], but it’s an acknowledgment that this is important and not just important to us,” she said.
Stone noted the two companies combined to bring about 750,000 people through the terminal each year, and that the Coho ferried more than 127,000 cars and $200 million to $300 million in freight annually.
Tall said she hopes the next phases of the process come sooner than later.
“Nothing can be done immediately, even with this commitment, but we are hopeful this will fast-track things as quickly as possible — it will be some years, but it’s not 15,” she said.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps saw the announcement as a major step forward, and pointed out the city has committed no less than $1 million for upgrades to Belleville Street in conjunction with a revitalized terminal. “This has been talked about and talked about and talked about and today we are seeing action,” Helps said.
Victoria-Swan Lake NDP MLA Rob Fleming said the announcement marked a major milestone.
“This has taken a lot of pressure over a lot of years, and we will hold government to account on comments the minister made to have a sustainable vision for what this terminal will look like — that’s the part that will excite Victorians the most,” he said.
Fleming credited Black Ball and Clipper for sticking it out. “For 14 years they have been extremely patient. They have believed in this city and this service even when this provincial government didn’t,” he said.