A new community amenity
The Township of Esquimalt has heard a strong desire from the community to build a public, multi-use dock.
A public dock is an opportunity to create community space along Esquimalt’s culturally significant shorelines. It is important that this amenity would serve all members of the Esquimalt community, and to align with the many on-going initiatives restoring the ecology of the region’s shorelines.
In summer 2024, staff put forward a request for proposals for an Options and Analysis Study. The goal of the study is to guide Township staff on the next steps for installation of a public multi-use dock in the Township.
In fall/winter 2024, staff worked with a team of landscape architects including biologists to help analyze options and communicate the pros and cons of 18 potential sites in the township. These sites are along both the Gorge Waterway and the southern shoreline of Esquimalt.
This study has been created to identify existing public land along the water, assess each potential site’s suitability for a community dock and gather community feedback.
We are asking residents to review the site options identified by the project team. To compare the suitability of each potential dock site, a scoring system using three priority levels has been used. Please note that dock design is not part of this phase. This step only involves narrowing down potential sites that meet safety, infrastructure, environmental and public interest thresholds.
Staff are in active conversation with the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation about the study to hear any feedback, concerns or cultural considerations.
You can learn more about the project in person at our January 23 open house at the Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion or see the plan details and survey on our project page. You can read about the pros and cons of each potential site and share your opinions.
Please take the survey before February 10, 2025.
Community feedback will be included in a summary report delivered to Mayor and Council with recommendations in early March.