Nanaimo is one step closer to becoming a cruise ship destination after the Island Coastal Economic Trust announced Wednesday it will provide $3.5 million to help build a new cruise ship terminal.
Jack Peake, chairman of the board of directors for ICE-T, said the project, which is currently in the planning stages, will attract a “significant amount” of cruise ships to the region once it is built.
He said the new terminal will help boost economic diversity and tourism in the region.
“We anticipate as many as 40 ships per year using this facility in the future and that will be of huge economic benefit not only to Nanaimo, but to mid-Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast,” said Peake.
“I’m blown away by the amount of ships currently being constructed and added to fleets and many of those, some with as many as 5,400 people aboard, will be arriving here.”
Peake said $3.5 million in local wages could be produced by the terminal through the creation of 118 jobs, and that an anticipated $12-20 million annually could be brought in to the region through visitor spending and cruise line spending.
The total cost of the double-berth terminal is expected to be $18.5 million.
So far, the province and Nanaimo Port Authority have also contributed $5 million each to the project. The remaining money is expected to come from the federal government.
Premier Gordon Campbell, who was on hand for the announcement at the site of the future terminal, said ICE-T is doing its job to diversify the local economy.
“Our government created the Island Coastal Economic Trust to put resources into the hands of locally elected people to invest in local ideas and projects like this new terminal,” said Campbell.
Ross Fraser, chairman of the Nanaimo Port Authority, said planning is already underway to increase the current 200-metre pier to 330 metres to accommodate the massive vessels, and that the Port’s vision is to also include a complete transportation centre that would include both air and marine travel options at the terminal.
Construction of the terminal will include reinforcement of the existing facility and the addition of mooring dolphins, dredging and upland improvements.
“It wasn’t too long ago that we were all working separately and tripping over each other to compete,” said Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan, who sits on the ICE-T board.
“There was initial worry that different interests would all be vying for their own individual needs.
“That hasn’t happened. Everybody is working together with a regional perspective in mind and are seeing the benefits of a common vision.”
So far, ICE-T, which was given $50 million by the province to invest, has spent $30 million.
That money generated $184 million in total investment on Vancouver Island, said Peake.
Jack Peake, chairman of the board of directors for ICE-T, said the project, which is currently in the planning stages, will attract a “significant amount” of cruise ships to the region once it is built.
He said the new terminal will help boost economic diversity and tourism in the region.
“We anticipate as many as 40 ships per year using this facility in the future and that will be of huge economic benefit not only to Nanaimo, but to mid-Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast,” said Peake.
“I’m blown away by the amount of ships currently being constructed and added to fleets and many of those, some with as many as 5,400 people aboard, will be arriving here.”
Peake said $3.5 million in local wages could be produced by the terminal through the creation of 118 jobs, and that an anticipated $12-20 million annually could be brought in to the region through visitor spending and cruise line spending.
The total cost of the double-berth terminal is expected to be $18.5 million.
So far, the province and Nanaimo Port Authority have also contributed $5 million each to the project. The remaining money is expected to come from the federal government.
Premier Gordon Campbell, who was on hand for the announcement at the site of the future terminal, said ICE-T is doing its job to diversify the local economy.
“Our government created the Island Coastal Economic Trust to put resources into the hands of locally elected people to invest in local ideas and projects like this new terminal,” said Campbell.
Ross Fraser, chairman of the Nanaimo Port Authority, said planning is already underway to increase the current 200-metre pier to 330 metres to accommodate the massive vessels, and that the Port’s vision is to also include a complete transportation centre that would include both air and marine travel options at the terminal.
Construction of the terminal will include reinforcement of the existing facility and the addition of mooring dolphins, dredging and upland improvements.
“It wasn’t too long ago that we were all working separately and tripping over each other to compete,” said Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan, who sits on the ICE-T board.
“There was initial worry that different interests would all be vying for their own individual needs.
“That hasn’t happened. Everybody is working together with a regional perspective in mind and are seeing the benefits of a common vision.”
So far, ICE-T, which was given $50 million by the province to invest, has spent $30 million.
That money generated $184 million in total investment on Vancouver Island, said Peake.