istrict of Sooke CAO asked to be able to respond to Gail Hall’s opinion piece on page 8.
Now that Prestige Hotel Sooke Oceanfront Resort has officially opened (June 2011), it is time to anticipate another grand opening… our very own Sooke public boat launch.
This exciting project will be completed by October 31, 2011. In order to meet DFO requirements, the window to complete the water based works is now scheduled for September 15, 2011.
The project was delayed this summer for no works were allowed in order to protect sensitive fish habitat. The water based works (dock/round-about/boat launch area) was tendered in 2010 for $1.1 million dollars.
The land based works (parking stalls/trail/access road to boat launch) is estimated at $400,000. All land based works are being constructed and paid for by Prestige Hotels as per our Partnering Agreement signed in 2010. In addition, Prestige Hotels is building a public pier that will link the hotel to the water. This $200,000 amenity contribution will ensure public access from the hotel to the future boardwalk/marina. Once the pier is completed to municipal standards, this asset will be transferred to the District of Sooke guaranteeing full public access to the water for generations to come.
Other amenities include fuel services, septic disposal, public dock, and slips available for non-for-profit community agencies (Coast guard Auxiliary/service clubs/other). Also, float planes visiting Sooke now have a public slip to tie up to.
In order to minimize costs, the District of Sooke applied for and was approved for a Build Canada government grant for $605,000 in 2010.
The boat launch is designed to allow boats access to the water at high and low tide. Twenty-four hour public access to Sooke Harbour was a fundamental component of the design. Cost to launch your boat and park your trailer? Free.
So, how does this project breakdown and at what cost to the Sooke taxpayer? It was always council’s objective to minimize costs and keep our contribution at one-third funding levels. In other words, it was council’s goal to build this public project using two-third funding dollars from outside agencies.
We are proud to announce we have achieved that.
Water based works: $1.1 Million
Land Based works: $0.4M ($400,000)
Pier: $0.2M
Contingency (8 per cent): $0.14M
Totral project cost: $1.84M
Less: -$0.605M (Build Canada Grant)
-$0.4M (Prestige Hotels for land-based works)
-$0.2M (Prestige Hotels for Public Pier)
Total coast to Sooke: $0.635M (35 cent dollars)
The project includes 21 parking stalls for truck/trailer and 3 stalls for vehicles only. There will also be short term parking available on the round-about near the launch area. The parking stalls range from ten 42’-46’ in length; eight 34’-38’ stalls; and three 24’-29’ stalls. If oversized truck/trailers need additional room, there is ample parking next door at “Jock’s Dock” (good neighbor relationship) where a nominal donation is appreciated by the family. The District of Sooke acknowledges that more parking stalls are needed, especially in the busy summer fishing season. Council and staff are exploring options to increase parking spaces.
The District of Sooke is proud to have provided this important public facility at a price that is both affordable and responsible. This public facility will allow local boaters and the traveling public to visit, tour, and experience Sooke and area by enhancing their eco-experience with modern amenities.
Respectfully submitted by Evan Parliament, CAO