The purpose of this project is to consult on potential District actions with respect to longer-term (post-2027) future uses of the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site.

The District of Oak Bay owns the Marina lands located at Turkey Head and has a lease with the Province for the foreshore/aquatic area occupied by Oak Bay Marina. The marina’s lease with Oak Bay includes the buildings, parking lot and water lot (a sublease from the Province). The lease with Oak Bay Marine Group expires in December 2027.

There is First Nations, business partner and community interest in future use of the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site. Consultation on potential next steps will help provide greater clarity on opportunities and help Council determine how best to proceed to achieve Council’s objectives for the site, which include:

• First Nations partnership,
• Sustainable Financial return,
• Site activation and public use, and
• Environmental stewardship

The project will be completed in three phases, as follows:

Songhees and Esquimalt Nations Engagement

Started in March 2025, currently underway

Future redevelopment at the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site could potentially generate economic opportunities for the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and could help achieve environmental, cultural, or other objectives supporting reconciliation. In this phase, Songhees and Esquimalt Nations will be invited to identify opportunities of interest and discuss how these could best be advanced.

(Other) Potential Business Partner Engagement

To be initiated if/once directed by Council following completion of Phase 1

Advancing redevelopment at the Turkey Head (Spewhung Point) site will likely need to involve one or more business partners. This phase will reach out to potential partners to assess interest in partnering and to better understand related motivations and requirements. Input/feedback can then be compared to Council’s objectives to assess potential for mutual benefit.

Community Engagement

To be initiated if/once directed by Council following completion of Phase 2

Engaging the community is intended to yield feedback that can be considered in determining and advancing next steps. To keep engagement focussed, input will be sought on high level visioning related to the types of uses to be accommodated on the site, the scale of redevelopment, and potential partnership agreements. Should Council be interested at this point in pursuing a specific partnership agreement, the community could be engaged on that. A consultation plan setting out detailed plans for community engagement will be brought forward for Council's approval before consultation starts.

Council has selected a consultant (Ahne Studio) to undertake consultation. Phase 1 work has started and is anticipated to take until at least July 2025 to complete.