The Inner Harbour causeway is in a state of disrepair.
Victoria council, sitting as committee of the whole, recommended approval Thursday for a heritage alteration permit to allow the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority to repair the damaged path, saying it is a safety hazard for pedestrians. The blue quartzite tiles are cracked and broken, and the mushroom lights are dented, their bases rusted. The Harbour Authority wants to replace the tiles with stamped concrete matching the pattern and colour of the existing tile, as well as refurbish the lights.
While the repairs were deemed necessary for safety, council indicated the changes were not an appropriate long-term solution for a heritage site. Approval came pending a commitment from the Harbour Authority that the stamped concrete would be a temporary fix.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority wants to repair this tiled area along the causeway at the Inner Harbour, because it is a tripping hazard. Some tiles lift up easily
B次元官网网址� Lauren Boothby (@laurby)
Coun. Pamela Madoff said she had a difficult time deciding how to vote, weighing public safety with protecting the heritage quality of the property.
B次元官网网址淎ll of the materials there are kind of high-end materials, because itB次元官网网址檚 our face to the world. ItB次元官网网址檚 the Inner Harbour,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e understand there is a safety issue, but we need to be stewards of the long-term future.B次元官网网址�
The changes needed, Madoff added, are more than a surface improvement.
B次元官网网址淲hen you look at the report, it shows that theyB次元官网网址檙e probably going to have to deal with a much more significant intervention there because the seating of the concrete and rebar underneath looks like it was not done in an adequate way,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淓ven if they put a permanent material down there now, it would probably fail as well until they do the infrastructure work.B次元官网网址�
Harbour Authority project manager Simon Renvoize said there have been ongoing problems with the causeway, built in the 1970s.
B次元官网网址淲e have been carrying out these repairs for many years, and itB次元官网网址檚 got to a point where itB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a patchwork quilt. We want to do something a little bit more substantial,B次元官网网址� he said.
Parts of the pathway have held up over time, but others have deteriorated. But the quartzite tiles, made in Norway, are difficult to find. Many are cracked and broken and are beyond repair, he said.
