Colwood will be receiving a massive investment from the federal government to build a pathway from the Esquimalt Lagoon to Royal Beach.
The $6 million investment was announced on Monday, April 17th by Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Anne Kang, BC Minister of Municipal Affairs and Councillor Jen Ford, President of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
The project scope will include a multi-use path along the Esquimalt Lagoon and work will include natural infrastructure to safeguard the peninsula against sea-level rise, and it will restore native vegetation to the salt marsh and bird sanctuary.
The goal is to make the lagoon more accessible for humans while improving habitats for local species, supporting biodiversity and stabilizing the ecology of the soil.
People walking the new pathway will be guided along the ecosystem thoughtfully and educationally.
Furthermore, this project will create space for people of all ages and abilities to take a nature walk which the City of Colwood says aligns with their climate action and clean initiatives.
“This accessible multi-use pathway will allow visitors to enjoy the spectacular waterfront in Colwood, while protecting sensitive ecological and archaeological shoreline areas,” said Doug Kobayashi, Mayor of the City of Colwood.
“The pathway will inspire people to get outdoors and active as they walk or cycle from Colwood’s town centre to the waterfront and beyond to the vibrant seaside village envisioned at Royal Beach.”
Colwood was just one of 45 municipalities selected to receive funding for infrastructure projects across the country receiving a total of $103.5 million.
Other municipalities receiving the funding are putting it towards new fire halls, water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades, airport expansions as well as bridge and road upgrades.