Mega Yachts, Mega Worries

Photo by Robert Hewitt, MPA

By Doreen Marion Gee

As an uneasy sun sets over Victoria Harbour, the mega yacht marina saga continues. With recent approvals, the project is sailing in a strong tailwind, but who knows what kind of challenging waters lay ahead. A case in point is the reasonable request by local stakeholders that marine safety guidelines be defined according to modern standards and that these protocols be used to assess the possible safety risks of the marina - before any federal approvals are given.

The parking lot for well-heeled sailors hit a major speed bump when City Hall down sized it to half its scope. But after submitting new plans, Western Asset Management (WAM ) is going full throttle with a 200 year lease of the Crown water lot from the Province and a recent development permit by City Council.  The new support of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations certainly sweetens the pot. Both Nations were promised payments of an ongoing economic benefit by the developer. But many people still wonder if valid public concerns are being seriously addressed by our politicians. Despite 7000 anti-marina signatures on a petition and solid public opposition from numerous citizens, groups, community leaders, MLAs and former mayors, WAM's luxury yacht dream has received the thumbs up from many levels of government. 

The most recent argument for a cautionary approach is the absence of any updated modern safety standards to guide operations in our harbour. About a year ago, Save Victoria Harbour (SVH) retained Quala Tech-Aero Consulting, air safety consultants, to do a report on our harbour. In a September 1, 2011 press release by SVH, they discuss the conclusions of the air safety specialists (in their September 23, 2010 report) : " The consultants found that Victoria Harbour Water Airport does not have a Safety Management System (SMS) in place, is not governed by specific up-to-date regulations and continues to operate under an obsolete ten-year-old Transport Canada risk assessment." A year later, the federal government still has not responded to the report.  Acting on the recommendations of David Olsen of Quala Tech-Aero Consulting, SVH is now asking Transport Canada to complete the implementation of the Safety Management System for Victoria Harbour Airport, making the evidence and safety management manual available to all stake holders; to complete a full marine and air safety case for the whole harbour, assuring the public and politicians that all risks are being managed; and to require that approval for any development within the Victoria Harbour Airport movement areas be contingent on a full Safety Case for such development and be in accordance with the approved SMS. Of course, 'any development' includes the marina proposal.

Denise Savoie, MP, continues to advocate for the public interest, including harbour safety. In July, she wrote : " Most confusing is how the federal government could consider approving a controversial major development next to a water airport that, after over a decade of delay, still has no legal safety guidelines or regulations. The airport's required Safety Management System (SMS) is also still under construction, and should be completed before starting construction on a mega-yacht marina."

Victoria Harbour Water Airport is the busiest water airport in Canada and third in the world. Given the small size of our harbour and the narrow width of the traffic channel, adding huge yachts to the mix may be loading the dice. Sometimes the first fatality in these development issues is simple common sense. Our harbour is not what it was in the eighties. There are now many homes along the shore and a massive increase in traffic and activity on the water. Perhaps a luxury marina for the rich is no longer a sustainable option.

To find out more about this issue and for addresses to submit feedback to all levels of government, please visit www.savevictoriaharbour.com