Sooke, Juan de Fuca residents vote to buy golf course

Residents of Sooke and Juan de Fuca have voted to buy a 23-acre golf course for future recreational use.

The DeMamiel Creek Golf Course is adjacent to the SEAPARC Leisure Complex. It will eventually be converted into field space, said Juan de Fuca regional director Mike Hicks, chairman of the Sooke and Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission (SEAPARC).

“The commission had a visionary idea to secure land for the future of the children of Juan de Fuca and Sooke. So we went to referendum because we didn’t know if everyone shared that vision and we’re pleased they do,” Hicks said.

Among 1,187 residents who voted in a referendum, 978 were in favour of borrowing money for the purchase, while 209 voted against it.

The owners of DeMamiel Creek Golf Course accepted a $1-million offer from SEAPARC, subject to the referendum. SEAPARC will transfer $250,000 for the purchase and the remaining $750,000 will be financed over 15 years at a fixed rate of about three per cent.

The current tax rate will fund the payments, with Sooke residents covering 75 per cent and Juan de Fuca residents covering 25 per cent, based on population.

The commission hopes to reopen the golf course by mid-June and will consider contracting out operations on a break-even basis, Hicks said.

Demand will determine when the property is converted to playing fields — it could be next year or 50 years from now, he said.

Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said she was pleased with the outcome.

“It was decisive and anything that encourages our residents to get outside and be active and enjoy our wonderful outdoors is a positive step forward,” Tait said. Most residents were in favour, she said. “Some have concerns, which has to do with the financial component, but I think the commission did its due diligence.”

The annual payment of $61,000 will result in a cost of $4.80 each year for a home valued at $400,000 in Juan de Fuca, or an annual cost of $8.40 for the same valued home in Sooke.

SEAPARC projected no tax rate increase.