Opinion Port Sidney Martina: Waiting for the Tourists Sidney council’s recent decision to wait until the summer is over to decide on allowing the Port Sidney Marina to expand is the best decision possible. Council could have taken the attitude that only two decisions could be made — approval or rejection. But, if approval had been given, nothing really would change in the operation of the marina for some time. As Granville West Capital Corporation president Kim Pullen said to a group of businessman during an information meeting he called prior to the public hearing, even if the Marina area was allowed to expand he could wait almost three years before actually expanding floats or other amenities into the new area, according to his contract with the Town. Council members had foresight when they recognized that it is too early to tell if the marina is successful as it is now being operated. Ald. Don Amos urged his colleagues to wait, ““so we could have a first-year test.” The development at the port has received a healthy share of Criticism from residents of Sidney who anticipated communi- ty use of the facility. Local boaters should be welcomed at the facility, as previously, they say. Pullen pulls no punches when he says that the marina is not intended to appeal to Peninsula boaters. The operation would not be economically viable if the local market was the main target. Rather, Pullen says: “We don’t offer annual moorage where people pay fora month. We could fill it up but there would be no slips for the transient boater.” From June 15 until the end of September, Pullen’s vision is to have the marina used by people vacationing on boats who see the marina as a destination resort. “That, in my mind, is what the purpose of the breakwater is,’ Pullen said. “If I wanted to I could lease (the 100 permanent berths) out for 364 days a year. But that doesn’t work for the transient boater.” His target is the vacationer with dollars to bum. The entire operation is geared toward the marine tourism industry. It’s appreciated by people on vacation. Necessities like hot showers, laundry facilities, garbage pick-up, dock-side fresh water and staff assistance with moorng are not available everywhere. Word of this marina’s facilities will spread through the boating community. Adventure packages now available at the port are attractive to tourists, who want something to do when they arrive. The “more things there are for tourists to do, the longer they will stay. That translates into a benefit for the business communi- Other business interests are getting on the bandwagon, recognizing the potential. But some still focus on the marina’s admitted dilemma — day moorage. A boater pulls into the marina. He is met by staff, fills his tanks with water, throws out his garbage, pumps out his sewage holding tank Gf he has one), walks ashore to shop, then returns to the boat to leave. “That’s great. I’ve done a nice tum. But I haven't eamed anything,” Pullen said. That is the motivation behind his $1 per hour charge for day moorage. The charge is justified if you consider that Canada’s national parks and B.C.’s provincial parks charge user fees. Camping at Pacific Rim National Park bears a cost of $12.95 per night. For Sidney’s marina to become a real success — and to ensure future expansion is responding to a real need — that marine tourism industry must be tapped successfully. theReview Serving The Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 First Street Sidney, B.C V8L 3C9 or RO. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C V8L 3S5 Second Class Mail Registration #0128 656-1151 Publisher: Ken Chyz Editor: Glenn Werkman AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER / VERIFIED CIRCULAT;ON, 3 og On AP BIA c ERs A550. a EWSPRPERS CO Volume 79 Issue No.29 Wednesday, July 17,1991 — A6