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Post by Ferryman on Jul 29, 2006 21:40:09 GMT -8
Seabus CEO wants 10 acres of Oceanfront land for terminus By Reporter Sylvie Paillard spaillard@squamishchief.com
Squamish could be the location of a brand new passenger ferry terminal if a deal can be struck to sell 10 acres of Oceanfront land to ferry company Strait of Georgia Transit (SGT), said company executives during a presentation to council a week ago Tuesday (July 18).
The proposed $15- to $20-million project could eventually bring 250 new jobs to town, said Maurice Gagné, CEO of SGT, a wholly owned subsidiary of astrolab Marine Group of Vancouver.
The service would capture not only the growing commuter traffic pouring out of Squamish, but the tourists pouring into the area.
“Tourists want a place out of Vancouver where they don’t see the skyline,” said Gagné. “The tourist industry is looking for a destination. Squamish can be that destination.”
Gagné said Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) CEO Mike Chin suggested the southwest portion of the Oceanfront property as a possible location for a light industrial terminus, which would allow for the maintenance, painting and the building of the 50-passenger ships.
The land’s value is contingent on factors such as existing services, said Mayor Ian Sutherland, but he estimates 10 acres could be worth between $5 and $10 million.
“There’s still lots of work to be done to make it happen,” he said.
Even though the business would bring huge benefits to Squamish, the district cannot sell the property to SGT at a reduced rate due to provincial regulations.
“We can’t be seen to favour one business over another,” said Sutherland.
At present, SGT consists of two vessels licensed and certified to begin the service in Squamish and Bowen Island with a fare of $25 one way. An SGT report also details a planned expansion to downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast, and a possible monthly pass that could reduce the fares to $35 round trip.
Gagné said he was very confident he could meet local Harbour Master Bill McEnery requests.
“I’m looking forward to living here,” said Gagné
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Post by Curtis on Jul 30, 2006 12:38:24 GMT -8
Sounds like this will be good.
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Post by Balfour on Jul 30, 2006 17:26:53 GMT -8
it will be interesting to see how everything unfolds here.
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 1, 2006 20:11:04 GMT -8
Ferry proposal makes waves won’t be done overnight, says SODC By Reporter Sylvie Paillard spaillard@squamishchief.com
A ferry terminal and shipyards development proposed for district-owned oceanfront property is making more waves in the District of Squamish.
Astrolabe Marine owner Maurice Gagné says work could begin immediately on a Squamish shipyard — bringing an economic boom with it — but Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) board members say there’s a long way to go before proposals for the land are heard.
“The assumption that anybody is going to be doing something there overnight is, of course, not correct,” said board member and district deputy administrator Brent Leigh.
The SODC and joint venture partner Qualex must first present a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to council for approval, and then present opportunities and ideas to the public while undergoing a master planning process, said Leigh.
Questions persist on the content of the MOU, which is meant to “address everybody’s concerns,” according to Qualex spokesperson Chris Colbeck adding there will be much more clarity once the documents are finalized.
“Once everyone’s clear on what it contains, that’s when it’ll become public,” he said. “It’s not quite finished so it would be unfair to the process.”
Ferry proponents made their initial presentation to council on July 18, and another presentation to the Rotary Club on Aug. 24 and have generated excitement throughout the community, said Gagné.
Astrolabe had been searching for the perfect spot to build their global headquarter and the “invitation needed” was a quote by Mayor Ian Sutherland in a recent Vancouver Sun article.
“Sutherland […] indicated the time was now to increase marine transport, tourism and industry here,” said Gagné.
Gagné said all the components are in place to take advantage of this opportunity now.
“The zoning, investment, community support for this plan, skilled workers looking for jobs and land base all exist in Squamish,” said Gagné in a press release. “There is no need to slow this plan down with a bunch of bureaucracy. We have money, a clear plan, long-term commitment to community development and the desire to execute it. Astrolabe Marine Group looks forward to a multi-generational relationship with Squamish.”
Now Astrolabe is proposing the creation of the Squamish Oceanfront Advisory Panel (SOAP) to engage the public.
“An adjunct, advisory board designed to create a two way information flow between [Astrolabe] executives and the most important factor in any sound business plan, the community,” states an Astrolabe report.
Starting next week, Astrolabe invites residents to drop into the company’s new office at 38029 Cleveland Ave. from noon to five “to chat and share your marine ideas,” according to Astrolabe community facilitator Kevin Damaskie.
Leigh said he hadn’t heard of SOAP and had concerns since the SODC public consultation process is imminent. “It seems counter-productive to have two processes going,” he said.
Murray called the idea of a ferry terminal an “exciting proposal” adding that Squamish needs an expanded transportation network. Leigh agreed.
“A lot of marine activity that would lead to a dynamic environment, that’s certainly the kind of thing that would get knitted into the master planning process for sure,” he said.
But the SODC won’t rush through the due diligence process needed before agreeing to the Astrolabe proposal, said Leigh. “The financial and contractual capacities of that applicant aren’t known yet,” he said.
Gagné has been in the marine industry building aluminum ships since 1992. He made headlines in 2004 when he announced a new Astrolabe passenger ferry service out of Vancouver. The service was never launched.
He also made headlines in 1999 when a Transport Canada appointment as Bowen Island and Horseshoe Bay harbour master was rescinded due to complaints of conflict of interest. Transport Canada dismissed accusations, which arose because Astrolabe had been working closely with the British Columbia Ferry Corporation on an initiative to launch a 42-passenger catamaran ferry service between Snug Cove and Horseshoe Bay.
“We didn’t find a direct conflict of interest, but we did receive a number of complaints,” said Transport Canada spokesman Rod Nelson at the time.
Gagné’s appointment was nonetheless rescinded.
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 1, 2006 20:53:18 GMT -8
The picture of the type of vessels they would use, kind of disappointed me a bit. It looks like they're going to be made out of fibreglass, and will be about the size of a sailboat. Here's a nearly identical picture of the vessel, that was shown in the newspaper....
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Post by Curtis on Sept 2, 2006 9:34:28 GMT -8
Looks like a Tiny Version of the Harbourlynx
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Post by NMcKay on Sept 2, 2006 9:35:49 GMT -8
doesn't look to be a kvaerner design
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Post by Scott on Sept 3, 2006 14:27:54 GMT -8
If it didn't work for Nanaimo, I have serious doubts about it working for Squamish. All depends on how it is managed I guess. If they can have some kind of connection to Whistler, then maybe there would be enough business.
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Post by Balfour on Sept 3, 2006 15:19:40 GMT -8
In order for it to work, I think there would have to be a cheap and fast rail or bus connection to Whistler.
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 3, 2006 16:30:24 GMT -8
I think this service would have to VERY fast, to offer a viable alternative to driving up the Sea-to-Sky.
I think the best train service would have to be a fast one, too. However, unlike a ferry service, a fast train service cannot be discontinued after the Olympics...so it would probably be best to use existing tracks between Squamish and Whistler, which brings more problems (has a "bullet train" ever been designed to use normal tracks?). Otherwise they have to use a standard passenger train, which would probably not bring in any profit.
I think they should stick to buses between Squamish and Whistler...which is probably what they will do.
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 3, 2006 18:06:32 GMT -8
The plan is to connect the Ferry service, with the buses to go to Whistler. The Land they're hoping to get a piece of, to build a terminal and a shipyard, is already connected to one of the old rail sidings, that lead to the old Nexen Chlorine plant. The tracks would have to be replaced, as they haven't been used in years. There's no way they could have a fast train run between here and Whistler. The Freight trains have to take it really easy while going through the Cheakamus Canyon, or else they'll go off the rails, and into the Cheakamus River, like what happened last summer. Here's a Feasable Study, written back in 2001.... www.seatoskyimprovements.ca/reports/Marine_Options.pdf#search=%22squamish%20fast%20ferry%22
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Post by NMcKay on Sept 4, 2006 8:13:34 GMT -8
there are too many points on the way to squamish that would force the vessel to slow down because of wakes, and the amount of debris that she would suck up would make the vessel all that much slower.
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Post by Dane on Sept 4, 2006 15:15:06 GMT -8
there are too many points on the way to squamish that would force the vessel to slow down because of wakes, and the amount of debris that she would suck up would make the vessel all that much slower. Wouldn't the slow points be more or less the same as HL? Moreover they're wanting to use a smaller vessel.
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 4, 2006 18:31:31 GMT -8
What spots would those be? Lions Bay, Porteau Cove, Furry Creek, and Britannia Beach? Or are you talking about the turn at Point Atkinson, and the turn at Watts Point, as you come into Squamish?
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Post by Dane on Sept 4, 2006 20:48:42 GMT -8
What spots would those be? Lions Bay, Porteau Cove, Furry Creek, and Britannia Beach? Or are you talking about the turn at Point Atkinson, and the turn at Watts Point, as you come into Squamish? I can't imagine you'd have to slow at any of those places, I can tell you the Canadian Forces doesn't and I am fairly sure (but not 100%) that they make a far greater wake than those smaller passenger vessels would. There is no mandatory slow in the Sound.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Sept 6, 2006 21:48:43 GMT -8
Chris- thanks for posting that link to the study that was done on a Vancouver - Squamish water route- it gives a bit of perspective to what sounds like a pretty dicey proposition.
The study points to a need for vessels carrying over 200 passengers, while the guy promoting this route is talking about boats carrying 50. He also doesn't exactly have a stellar track record to recommend him as the head of such a venture. The news stories aren't specific as to whether he's looking at this as mainly a commuter route, or for tourists. I think the study shows that you'd pretty much have to have a best case scenario of snagging every available commuter, and a fair number of tourists, to make this work.
How many people are going to get out of their cars and take a high priced ferry every day to make this work? And are any tourists heading for Whistler going to want to make some sort of transfer once they get to Squamish?
Since there can't be a downtown to Squamish rail service, that works in favor of a marine route, if we're looking at a new link. This does look somewhat pie-in-the-sky though, and I'll bet this guy doesn't have the deep pockets necessary to wait for the service to grow and start making money, if it ever could. I'd love to be proved wrong on this.
"The tourist industry is looking for a destination. Squamish can be that destination". Sure thing. Doesn't sound like a guy overly rooted in reality.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Sept 7, 2006 13:50:05 GMT -8
Hold on, I remember hearing something about the Snohomish and Chinook are going to be sold soon. Could those vessels be heading up to BC possibly?
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 7, 2006 21:07:28 GMT -8
How many people are going to get out of their cars and take a high priced ferry every day to make this work? And are any tourists heading for Whistler going to want to make some sort of transfer once they get to Squamish? That is a the key thing here. There are different groups of people who are either willing to do whatever it takes to drive themselves up and down the highway, or people looking for a nicer alternative. The Rail service is about to increase believe it or not. The old Royal Hudson (Largest Steam train in Canada, for those who don't know already...) is supposed to be running once again, after its huge rebuild over the last couple of years. Plus, BC Rails Budd Cars (similar to the Islands E&N) will also be doing some sort of service. There is a line, that isn't used too much, that goes almost right to where the location of the "Ferry" Terminal is supposed to go. Which is just a bit further down the line, from where the Royal Hudson used to sit, and unload/load passengers in Downtown Squamish. Plus there's also the Whistler Mountaineer train, which apparently has been doing really well. Such a typical thing to say about this place.....there's hardly any accomadations here for tourists. The best we have is a hotel with a 3.5 star rating. But there's a huge hotel just being built meters away from my house, which is set to be done in 2008.....
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Sept 7, 2006 21:35:06 GMT -8
Chris- I didn't mean to dump on Squamish- I think it's a beautiful place- I'm just not sure tourists are ever going to go there in droves. Like I said, I'd be quite happy to end up being wrong about this, and have a thriving marine connection between Squamish and downtown. It's just that there's been so many occasions on the coast of BC where some developer has come along and dazzled small towns with visions of tax dollars and tourist revenue, and things haven't panned out. This just sounds familiar.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 7, 2006 21:46:11 GMT -8
It's just that there's been so many occasions on the coast of BC where some developer has come along and dazzled small towns with visions of tax dollars and tourist revenue, and things haven't panned out. This just sounds familiar. That exact thing happened to Springfield in an episode of "The Simpsons" www.tv.com/marge-vs.-the-monorail/episode/1356/summary.htmlTrust me, it's relevant to the topic...
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 8, 2006 6:19:07 GMT -8
Chris- I didn't mean to dump on Squamish- I think it's a beautiful place- I'm just not sure tourists are ever going to go there in droves. Like I said, I'd be quite happy to end up being wrong about this, and have a thriving marine connection between Squamish and downtown. It's just that there's been so many occasions on the coast of BC where some developer has come along and dazzled small towns with visions of tax dollars and tourist revenue, and things haven't panned out. This just sounds familiar. Hornbyguy, I'm not taking offence to your dumping on Squamish. I was quoting the quote you pointed out, "...Squamish can be that destination..". I don't really agree with that quote. But no harm done anyway. I'd rather be living back on Vancouver Island again.
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Post by Curtis on Sept 8, 2006 7:13:51 GMT -8
Going a bit off It's just that there's been so many occasions on the coast of BC where some developer has come along and dazzled small towns with visions of tax dollars and tourist revenue, and things haven't panned out. This just sounds familiar. That exact thing happened to Springfield in an episode of "The Simpsons" www.tv.com/marge-vs.-the-monorail/episode/1356/summary.htmlTrust me, it's relevant to the topic... That episode was a good one I always liked the Monorail Song. "Mono means one and rail means rail" Good Show ;D Good show indeed.
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Post by Balfour on Sept 8, 2006 7:16:23 GMT -8
Squamish is only a pit-stop for travellers en-route to Whistler.
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Sept 8, 2006 14:48:02 GMT -8
That Simpsons episode has always been one of my favorite. I also love it when they sing the Mono-Rail song!
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Post by ruddernut on Sept 18, 2006 8:04:25 GMT -8
Squamish is only a pit-stop for travellers en-route to Whistler. Isn't it the place to go for rock climbing, whitewater rafting and eagle watching? Anyways, I figure this venture will bomb, considering it's $25 each way (way too much for daily commuting) and public transit is probably just around the corner for the Howe Sound corridor.
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