Festive fundraiser Money raised supports university students. Page 7 health wait Treatment complicated for child with autism. Page 12 Continental divide Music unites duo on album collaborations. Page 3
Barsby reaches semifinal Page 33
Celebrating
1988
2013
Years
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TuesDAY, NOVeMBeR 19, 2013
VOl. 25, NO. 67
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Foot ferry owners lobby community to support plan
I
CoMPaNy MuST ink deal with city for service to float. By Tamara Cunningham The News BulleTiN
KARL YU/The News BULLeTiN
Christmas light-up
Magician Brent Beadle wows the crowd with some fire eating at the Beban Park social centre as part of the Kris Kringle Craft Market Saturday. Thousands of people turned out to the event, which celebrated its 20th anniversary but its first year in the Nanaimo area.
An agreement with the City of Nanaimo is critical to launching a new passenger ferry service, says Bob Lingwood, managing director of Island Ferries. Lingwood recently called for Nanaimo business people to lobby the local government for a deal that would limit revenue sharing over the next five years. Island Ferries wants to launch a $63-million passenger-only ferry service at the south industrial waterfront, which would be able to shuttle 375 people between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver in just over an hour. The company – which has invested $10 million in the venture so far – says it’s confident its plan will work. It’s learned from the failings and triumphs of two previous foot ferry operators and knows there’s an appetite for greater travel options in central Vancouver Island. But in order for the new business to launch its two catamarans, it needs a deal with TransLink to use the SeaBus terminal near Canada Place, more investment and a partnership deal with the City of Nanaimo. The local arrangement would have city officials crediting $125,000 back to Island Ferries
each quarter for a total revenue loss of $2.5 million. After five years, the city would start to receive full revenue shares of $700,000 annually. The company is also calling for a 20-year lease and site servicing to the tune of $125,000. Nanaimo city officials have asked for taxpayers to weigh in on the proposal, which they say could take anywhere from two to six months to ink. Island Ferries is calling on its supporters to lobby politicians in their favour. “There are many things that have to be done. I think the agreement with the city is the most critical,” said Lingwood. “It demonstrates to investors the strength of the market and the importance of this service to economic development. “From Island Ferries Services Ltd.’s perspective the structure of the agreement provides long-term tenure and start-up support.” Lining up a port on the Vancouver side will be simple and a straight commercial transaction. Investment is up to other people, not Island Ferries, Lingwood said of other tasks. The foot ferry pitch – and plea for support from Nanaimo’s business community – is being backed by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, which recently accepted Island Ferries as a member. The organization is now encouraging business people to advocate for a city agreement and plans to work with the ferry venture on any challenges it might encounter. u See ‘RESIDENTS’ /4
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