Friday June 30, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated July 3, 2023]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A new, modern Belleville Terminal and an improved travelling experience for ferry passengers took a significant step forward as the Province approved funding for a redevelopment project.
“The new facility we’re building is going to generate hundreds of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional visitor spending over the coming decades,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure today at the terminal site.
“A modern pre-clearance terminal will make travel more convenient for tourists, while enhancing security and trade between Vancouver Island and Washington state, improving Vancouver Island’s tourism sector and boosting regional business investment.” | Belleville Terminal news release June 30, 2023
$303.9 million budget:
With an approved budget of $303.9 million, the project is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tourism season. The federal government has confirmed $41.6 million for the project.
The Province is also in discussions with ferry operators Black Ball Ferry Line and FRS Clipper to determine their respective involvement in the project. Procurement will begin in the coming weeks.
Today Fleming said that “not a single BC dollar was left on the table”, in the context of the federal funding commitment being the last piece to move the project forward.
Refresh is welcome:
City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said today that visitor first-impressions of Canada/Victoria/harbour have been “tired for a very very long time”.
She proposed that the five-year construction period will essentially fly by.
Compliance with border requirements:
The upgrade will bring Belleville Terminal into compliance with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement. Using pre-clearance, travellers will complete the U.S. customs and immigration process in Victoria and enjoy the convenience of disembarking in the United States with no further delays.
Economic growth:
As an international gateway for goods, services, and passengers, the new terminal will help drive regional and provincial economic growth. Travellers spend approximately $174 million annually, generating $268 million in economic output and $155 million in provincial gross domestic product.
“By investing in a premier international gateway terminal that meets modern safety and security standards, our government will help grow British Columbia’s economy and ensure a prosperous and sustainable future,” said Randy Boissonnault, federal Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
“This project will welcome global tourists and business travellers into the heart of Victoria’s inner harbour with world-class service while creating good-paying jobs and facilitating the movement of goods,” said Boissonnault.
The current Belleville Terminal supports 2,200 regional jobs. Belleville Terminal generates 220,000 overnight visitors and enables the ferry operators to sell more than 16,000 vacation packages annually, all of which are provided by local businesses in Victoria.
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Williams was the emcee for today’s announcement outdoors at the terminal.
Project timeline:
The first phase of the project, anticipated to be complete in 2024, will build a temporary terminal in the Steamship Building and a new wharf to accommodate FRS Clipper and US Customs and Border Protection.
The Canada Border Services Agency and Black Ball ferry operations will continue to use the existing spaces, ramps and vehicle areas.
The second phase will demolish the existing FRS Clipper terminal infrastructure, replacing it with a LEED Gold pre-clearance terminal. The second phase, which will begin following completion of the first phase, also includes a new commercial goods processing facility.
Details:
Phase 1 Scope:
- Construction of a temporary terminal in the Steamship Building and wharf to accommodate Clipper and US Customs and Border Protection.
- Expansion of Canadian Border Services Agency operations on the lower/ground level of the Black Ball building to allow for primary and secondary security processing of both the Coho and Clipper vessels.
- Black Ball will continue to utilize its existing facilities.
Phase 2 Scope:
- Demolition of existing Clipper terminal infrastructure
- Construction of a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border security standard
- Replacement of ageing wharf facilities
- Construction of a new commercial goods processing facility
- New accessible terminal building to be LEED Gold, all electric building with mass timber components and will comply with BC Code Step 3 net-zero energy ready performance.
Location:
Belleville Terminal is on the territory of the Lekwungen peoples and the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
The Province says it is working collaboratively with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations to identify opportunities to showcase the cultural and geographical significance of the project’s location in Victoria’s Inner Harbour and welcome visitors into Lekwungen territory.
Energy-efficient:
The project will incorporate the highest energy-efficiency and resiliency standards for a changing climate.
The new all-electric terminal building will include mass-timber components and renewable materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate site contamination, meeting LEED Gold standards and supporting government’s CleanBC emissions-reduction commitments.
===== LINKS:
Belleville Project website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/bellevilleterminal
Public engagement results: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/transportation-infrastructure-projects/belleville-terminal/bellevilleterminalengagementsummaryreport_updated.pdf
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends has been covering news of the west shore and south Vancouver Island region for now over 15 years (previously as MapleLine Magazine 2008-2010, Sooke Voice News 2011-2013, and West Shore Voice News 2014-2020). Editor Mary P Brooke.