The first steel piling is now fixed into the seabed in Victoria Harbour as construction begins on the $24-million super-yacht marina.
“I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised” when the marina is finished in late spring 2017, marina project manager Craig Norris said Tuesday.
“What I hope is that people are really proud of what this does for the harbour.”
The 28-slip marina is made for boats 65 to 150 feet long. Two commercial buildings, totalling 14,000 square feet, are being built on the piles in the water in front of condominiums at Songhees. One will house a restaurant; the other is for marina offices where a concierge will be stationed.
Community opposition exploded after marina plans, put forward by a previous development group, were announced in 2008.
The project has since been taken over by a group of investors from China. Updated drawings are expected to be available shortly, Norris said.
Citizens and harbour users fought against a larger scheme that had more than 50 slips. They charged that safety would be compromised in the busy harbour, and that views and the environment would be impaired.
Supporters maintain that the marina will bring millions of dollars to the local economy and bolster not only the tourism sector but other local businesses providing everything from groceries to ship repair.
Paddlers remain concerned about the suitability of their route, which will run under the buildings.
A total of 25 piles will be driven into bedrock for one building, and 24 for the other, Norris said. Once piles are in place, concrete slabs will be built on top to form foundations for the buildings. A construction firm for the buildings has not been named yet.
Blue Water Systems of Delta is putting in the piles, 40 to 50 feet long and 16 inches in diameter. Each pile is fitted with a drill bit to plow through rip-rap (boulders) on the seabed and into the bedrock, Norris said.
It will take up to a month to install piles for each building, he said.
Construction of the floats is slated to start next week in Blue Water’s mainland facility. Floats are to be delivered by the end of March, he said.
The leasing plan for moorage spaces has been revamped, with seven slips available in each of four categories.
Seven spots are available for 40-year leases, Norris said. So far, two local boaters have lined up spots.
Another seven will be leased on an annual basis. The same number will be for monthly users, and seven slips will be for transient boaters.
Norris said the marina will release its transient and monthly rates this fall. Annual and 40-year rates will remain private.
