The wait for the renovation of Hopkins Landing Dock will be at least another six months. In a Jan. 29 press release the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) said the work originally set to begin in late January, has been postponed until late summer due to permitting delays. The dock was closed in mid-2023 when the SCRD determined it was "structurally unreliable for public assembly."
“Following an updated biophysical assessment of the marine habitat completed last week, it was determined that further planning is required to protect eelgrass and fish habitat during construction. Site-specific measures must be developed to avoid harming these important ecological areas,” the release detailed.
“As a result, the necessary permits to proceed with construction within the permitted in-water works timeframe required by the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act cannot be secured. With the in-water works window closing at the end of January, construction cannot move forward until it reopens in mid-August at the earliest.”
According to a report presented to SCRD elected officials at a Nov. 25, 2024 finance committee meeting, the approved budget for the project was $497,336. As of that point last year $57,596 had been spent and $439,740 remained available to complete a “like-for-like” designed renovation, maintaining the dock’s familiar look while improving safety and resilience.
In the release, SCRD general manager of community services, Shelley Gagnon stated, “While this delay is disappointing, we are committed to adhering to the permitting process set by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We will work towards having all required permits in place by late summer, allowing work to proceed at that point.”
Updates on the project are available through the SCRD's "Let’s Talk" page at letstalk.scrd.ca/hopkins and on www.scrd.ca.
