Rock Bay Harbour Ferry Project - Dredging and Dock Construction

PUBLIC NOTICE 

Rock Bay Harbour Ferry Project - Dredging and Dock Construction – PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED 

August 13, 2026 – Transport Canada must determine whether the dredging and dock construction in Rock Bay, located in Victoria, B.C. is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination, the authorities are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public [and may be posted online]. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website. 

Written comments must be submitted by September 12, 2026 to: 

Impact Assessment Pacific Region
Transport Canada
Suite 820
800 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2J8
Email: PACEnvironment-environnement@tc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project 

Ralmax Properties Limited is proposing to install a new dock facility to allow for moorage of small harbour water taxi boats adjacent to 525 Bay Street in Victoria, B.C. Activities associated with the project include dredging, placement of riprap, and installation of docks (including a gangway), piles, and a marine rail. 

Dredging of seabed sediments would be completed using a derrick barge and dredged materials would be transported to an upland facility for disposal. Dredging would occur within a footprint of approximately 3000 m² to a target dredge depth of -1 m Chart Datum. Riprap would be placed along the top of the dredge cut, including along the base of an existing sheet pile wall.

The dock facility is proposed to include a timber dock structure consisting of a main walkway dock, multiple finger docks, a ramp float, and an aluminum gangway. The docks will be constructed off-site and floated to the project site. The docks will be secured with 28 steel piles 0.3 m in diameter installed via vibratory hammer from a barge. 

A steel marine rail will be installed at the landward end of the docks, supported by 10 steel support piles 0.3 m in diameter installed via vibratory hammer. The rail would provide haul-out capacity for harbour taxis for upland work.

Transport Canada (TC) is reviewing the project for approval under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA) and the Public Ports and Public Port Facilities Regulations (PPPPFR), as the proposed project falls within lands administered by Transport Canada. TC will also be issuing a licence and a lease to enable the work.