Plans for $75-million Mississauga marina move forward with more public input

City of Mississauga officials are again reaching out to the public for input into plans for a new, full-service and modern marina to be built in Port Credit.

In the midst of completing a provincially-mandated environmental assessment (EA) before more specific details about the $75-million (estimated) project can be decided upon, the City is hosting a second virtual Public Information Centre, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 22.

“The City will present the preferred lakefill alternative, the preliminary design of the park space and marina along with the effects assessment,” officials said in an online update. “We are seeking your feedback on the preliminary layout and the effects assessment through an online survey.”

Officials say responses to questions and comments raised will be posted to the project website following the consultation period.

The first mandated public feedback session was held earlier this year. Residents, businesses and others who provided input in February and March also wanted information on a number of issues including traffic impact, final cost of the project and what the finished site will look like.

In response, project officials told residents that no matter which of several design options being considered is chosen, traffic impact upon completion of the site will be the same.

During construction, officials noted, “consideration will be given to using barges to bring some of the fill material to the site” to minimize the road traffic impact.

Project officials say more details about design and cost will be available as the EA process continues.

For now, City officials are urging people to continue to take part in the public engagement sessions.

After a year-long wait, Mississauga officials got word last September that Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment had approved terms of reference for the required environmental assessment of the massive undertaking.

The waterfront overhaul seeks to maximize the location’s advantage as Lake Ontario’s deepest natural harbour in making a new-look Port Credit Harbour a destination place, City officials say.

They hope a new marina will attract boaters from all over who will, ideally, spend the day in Port Credit shopping and dining.  

As it moves forward with the EA, which when completed must be approved by the Ontario government, Mississauga is looking to provincial and federal governments for money to complete the redevelopment plan, termed by City staff the 1 Port Street East Proposed Marina Project.  

Mayor Bonnie Crombie has identified the Port Credit marina undertaking as one of Mississauga’s top two infrastructure priorities, the other being the re-instatement of a downtown loop as part of the Hurontario light rail transit project.  

She added last fall that the surrounding community is “incredibly supportive” of the plan, and that beyond the marina, the City is looking to create new land for parks and access to the waterfront. 

“Our goal is to create a new destination for recreation, tourism and economic development,” Crombie said last September. 

Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko earlier described the waterfront as the “jewel in the crown of Mississauga” and said Port Credit, most notably with its deep harbour, is the perfect spot for a new, modern marina. 

City staff say the natural advantages of a deep harbour cannot be overstated. Port Credit is one of the few Lake Ontario deep-water harbours capable of accommodating big boats, they say.  

“That’s a unique advantage of this site as the harbour does not require regular dredging,” staff said last year. “There is a trend towards bigger boats and this site can accommodate and capitalize on that trend because of the deep waters.” 

Staff add that transient boaters coming to the marina could spend the day in Port Credit eating, shopping and spending money. 

“Potential economic benefits are significant,” they said. 

The 1 Port Street East project is a key element of the City’s much broader Inspiration Port Credit Charting the Future Course Master Plan. It’s intended to help fulfill the Master Plan vision “to ensure that an iconic and vibrant mixed-use waterfront neighbourhood and destination with a full-service marina is developed at the 1 Port St. E. site.”  

Mississauga operates two other marinas in the city—Lakefront Promenade and Credit Village marinas. 

The survey for the latest round of public engagement is available on the project website.