Hamilton Marsh Conditional Purchase

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The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and Mosaic Forest Management are pleased to announce that a conditional Contract of Purchase and Sale (CPS) has been signed for approximately 360 hectares (ha) of land known as Hamilton Marsh. An offer of $30 million was accepted, with the sale anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2026.

Owned by Island Timberlands and managed under Mosaic Forest Management, the Hamilton Marsh site is located south of the Town of Qualicum Beach with most of the land located within RDN Electoral Area F and a segment within Electoral Area G. The site is bounded by Hilliers Road on the north and west sides, Memorial Avenue on the east side, and the Island Corridor Foundation rail corridor on the south side.

Acquiring Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority for the RDN for many years. The marsh, located on the north side of the property and approximately 36 ha in size, forms part of the French Creek watershed and connects with Beach and Grandon Creek in the Town of Qualicum Beach. It is formed through a combination of several wetland habitats including a prolific waterfowl brood marsh. Several species of wildlife that use the marsh and the surrounding mature, second-growth forest are listed by the Conservation Data Centre as species of concern or at risk.

The acquisition site contains many priority West Coast Region (WCR) environmental values including an extensive stand of mature forest. This ecologically significant wetland and mature forest is located within the Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime (CDFmm) biogeoclimatic subzone. In the absence of a stand-altering disturbance the 100-year old mature forest will be classified as old-growth within 150 years; the area represents an important recruitment site for this rare type of old forest within the province.

To help offset the $30 million cost, the RDN is actively pursuing funding contributions from partners, including conservation groups and the provincial ministries, in the amount of $7.5 million.

For More Information and to Get Involved

  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe to leave your email address and receive email updates
  • Explore this webpage to find out more about the agreement to purchase the property, the property and next steps in the Background Documents and links
  • Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions and will be added to along the way based on what we are hearing
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with everyone

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and Mosaic Forest Management are pleased to announce that a conditional Contract of Purchase and Sale (CPS) has been signed for approximately 360 hectares (ha) of land known as Hamilton Marsh. An offer of $30 million was accepted, with the sale anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2026.

Owned by Island Timberlands and managed under Mosaic Forest Management, the Hamilton Marsh site is located south of the Town of Qualicum Beach with most of the land located within RDN Electoral Area F and a segment within Electoral Area G. The site is bounded by Hilliers Road on the north and west sides, Memorial Avenue on the east side, and the Island Corridor Foundation rail corridor on the south side.

Acquiring Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority for the RDN for many years. The marsh, located on the north side of the property and approximately 36 ha in size, forms part of the French Creek watershed and connects with Beach and Grandon Creek in the Town of Qualicum Beach. It is formed through a combination of several wetland habitats including a prolific waterfowl brood marsh. Several species of wildlife that use the marsh and the surrounding mature, second-growth forest are listed by the Conservation Data Centre as species of concern or at risk.

The acquisition site contains many priority West Coast Region (WCR) environmental values including an extensive stand of mature forest. This ecologically significant wetland and mature forest is located within the Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime (CDFmm) biogeoclimatic subzone. In the absence of a stand-altering disturbance the 100-year old mature forest will be classified as old-growth within 150 years; the area represents an important recruitment site for this rare type of old forest within the province.

To help offset the $30 million cost, the RDN is actively pursuing funding contributions from partners, including conservation groups and the provincial ministries, in the amount of $7.5 million.

For More Information and to Get Involved

  • Stay informed by clicking on subscribe to leave your email address and receive email updates
  • Explore this webpage to find out more about the agreement to purchase the property, the property and next steps in the Background Documents and links
  • Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions and will be added to along the way based on what we are hearing
  • Ask a question and we will do our best to answer it and share the information with everyone

Ask a Question

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  • Share Why only 7.5 million of fundraising partnerships. Will tax payers end up paying the balance? on Facebook Share Why only 7.5 million of fundraising partnerships. Will tax payers end up paying the balance? on Twitter Share Why only 7.5 million of fundraising partnerships. Will tax payers end up paying the balance? on Linkedin Email Why only 7.5 million of fundraising partnerships. Will tax payers end up paying the balance? link

    Why only 7.5 million of fundraising partnerships. Will tax payers end up paying the balance?

    Palermonoel asked 6 days ago

    The minimum $7.5 million funding target was set by the RDN Board as a goal for the Hamilton Marsh acquisition. The remaining balance of the purchase price would be funded through reserve contributions and long-term borrowing. The long-term borrowing would result in an increase cost to the Regional Parks and Trails Service Area budget. To understand how the borrowing would impact each participating area please visit our FAQ section.

  • Share Did Mosaic purchase this land? When and for what price? Why are they not acknowledging it's ecological significance and excluding it from their clear cutting inventory? on Facebook Share Did Mosaic purchase this land? When and for what price? Why are they not acknowledging it's ecological significance and excluding it from their clear cutting inventory? on Twitter Share Did Mosaic purchase this land? When and for what price? Why are they not acknowledging it's ecological significance and excluding it from their clear cutting inventory? on Linkedin Email Did Mosaic purchase this land? When and for what price? Why are they not acknowledging it's ecological significance and excluding it from their clear cutting inventory? link

    Did Mosaic purchase this land? When and for what price? Why are they not acknowledging it's ecological significance and excluding it from their clear cutting inventory?

    Debra asked 7 days ago

    Yes, Mosaic purchased the Hamilton Marsh property. The RDN does not have access to the specific timing nor financial details of this transaction.

    The conditional purchase and sale agreement recently negotiated demonstrates Mosaic's commitment to recognizing ecologically important areas and working collaboratively with local governments to find innovative and mutually beneficial solutions.

  • Share Will this acquisition require any borrowing by the Rdn? on Facebook Share Will this acquisition require any borrowing by the Rdn? on Twitter Share Will this acquisition require any borrowing by the Rdn? on Linkedin Email Will this acquisition require any borrowing by the Rdn? link

    Will this acquisition require any borrowing by the Rdn?

    Jennah asked 8 days ago

    Yes, long-term borrowing is estimated to be $21.2 million. To understand how the borrowing would impact each participating area please visit the FAQ section.

  • Share Will this be within the new Area F/Errington bundary? Would this Marsh not be better suited for the Province to manage? There was no budget item for the purchase of Hamilton Marsh in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Where is the money going to come from? on Facebook Share Will this be within the new Area F/Errington bundary? Would this Marsh not be better suited for the Province to manage? There was no budget item for the purchase of Hamilton Marsh in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Where is the money going to come from? on Twitter Share Will this be within the new Area F/Errington bundary? Would this Marsh not be better suited for the Province to manage? There was no budget item for the purchase of Hamilton Marsh in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Where is the money going to come from? on Linkedin Email Will this be within the new Area F/Errington bundary? Would this Marsh not be better suited for the Province to manage? There was no budget item for the purchase of Hamilton Marsh in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Where is the money going to come from? link

    Will this be within the new Area F/Errington bundary? Would this Marsh not be better suited for the Province to manage? There was no budget item for the purchase of Hamilton Marsh in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Where is the money going to come from?

    Kevin Pilger asked 8 days ago

    Hamilton Marsh would be considered a regional park and would not be affected by any potential boundary amendment. The RDN is pursuing the Province as a possible funding partner for the acquisition. If provincial funding is secured, related contribution agreements would detail the any required provincial responsibilities.

    The purchase was included in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan within the Regional Parks Capital budget on page 224, although the figures are now dated as the purchase price is lower than what is included in the Plan. The 2025-2029 Financial Plan will be amended to reflect the $30 million purchase price, the new long-term borrowing amount of $21.2 million and the $7.5 million of external fundraising. To understand how the borrowing would impact each participating area please visit our FAQ section.

  • Share What are the long term cost implications once the property is purchased? on Facebook Share What are the long term cost implications once the property is purchased? on Twitter Share What are the long term cost implications once the property is purchased? on Linkedin Email What are the long term cost implications once the property is purchased? link

    What are the long term cost implications once the property is purchased?

    madronarudi asked 8 days ago

    The purchase will require long-term borrowing. The annual debt repayment costs of each participating area for the estimated borrowing of $21.2 million are outlined in the FAQ section. 

     If the RDN is successful in securing the property it will be held as a regional park and conservation area. A management plan for the park and conservation area would be developed in collaboration with RDN funding partners and would include engagement with residents of the region. Once the plan is finalized, detailed cost estimates for any proposed amenities and annual operational costs would be presented to the RDN Board for review and approval.

  • Share Isn't $83,333 per hectare a lot of money to pay for a swamp? on Facebook Share Isn't $83,333 per hectare a lot of money to pay for a swamp? on Twitter Share Isn't $83,333 per hectare a lot of money to pay for a swamp? on Linkedin Email Isn't $83,333 per hectare a lot of money to pay for a swamp? link

    Isn't $83,333 per hectare a lot of money to pay for a swamp?

    Curious George asked 8 days ago

    The Hamilton Marsh property encompass a total of 360 hectares, which includes not only the 36-hectare marsh but also 324 hectares of mature forest. This diverse landscape significantly contributes to the overall value of the property. To ensure the purchase price is in line with market conditions, comprehensive land and timber appraisals were conducted.

    By considering both the ecological value of the marsh and the forest along with timber values, the price reflects a fair and informed assessment of the land's worth. The acquisition of Hamilton Marsh Lands is seen as an investment in preserving a vital ecological asset that offers long-term environmental and community benefits.

Page last updated: 09 Sep 2025, 03:40 PM