Hamilton Marsh Conditional Purchase

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. In February, Mosaic Forest Management agreed to revise the purchase terms to $28 million in their efforts to help the RDN preserve the site.

Acquiring Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority for the RDN, lands trusts and conservation organizations for many years.

Contributing to the Preservation of Hamilton Marsh

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is pleased to announce that funding to acquire the 360 hectares (ha) of land known as Hamilton Marsh has been secured. The RDN secured agreements with Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT) and Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) to fundraise at a local community level. Additional partnerships with the Province of B.C.’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the Government of Canada, the Nature Trust of BC and the Sitka Foundation have allowed the RDN to secure the whole $28 million.

If you are still considering contributing to the preservation of Hamilton Marsh, there are two options:

Nanaimo & Area Land Trust - Fundraising campaign
NALT successfully reached their goal of $250,000 and and continue to receive donations. For more information please visit our What's New article or donate directly at nalt.bc.ca/hamilton-marsh.

Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Region - Pledge Drive
MABR launched a pledge drive to assist the RDN with the purchase. For more information please visit our What's New article or download your pledge form at mabr.ca/hamiltonmarsh.

About Hamilton Marsh

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.

The marsh, located on the north side of the property and approximately 36 ha of the 360 ha, 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.

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 Important Links
Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions, more 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

Acquiring Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority for the RDN, lands trusts and conservation organizations for many years.

Contributing to the Preservation of Hamilton Marsh

If you are still considering contributing to the preservation of Hamilton Marsh, there are two options:

About Hamilton Marsh

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 Important Links
Check out the FAQ's, which answer common questions, more 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

If you have any questions about the process or project, please add them here and the answer will be shared with you and on the page. We ask that only questions related to this project are asked here. Unrelated information provided here will not be shared with the RDN Board of Directors.

To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include any information that could identify you or another person. Identifying information could include a person’s name, address, email or phone number. Questions that contain personal information will not be published.

The purchase agreement for the marsh as a condition of purchase of $7.5 million to be raised by others. Has this amount been changed? If so when was it changed?

bradmcarthur asked about 1 month ago

After reviewing the confirmed contributions of over $2.7 million and considering Mosaic’s offer to reduce the purchase price by $2 million, the RDN Board approved the release of the buyers condition for satisfactory fundraising and approved the use of Regional Parks and Trails reserve funds to complete the purchase at an In Camera RDN Board meeting in February.
You did not answer my last question from Feb 11th and it somehow got deleted from this form. So here it is again, I would appreciate a response. You asked: 'The RDN has disclosed all the details of other sources of funding and has made all the amounts and participants public knowledge with the exception of the following; $1,250,000 in other pledges that are contingent on the purchase being completed. • $996,000 in other land conservation sources. I would like to know the details on who pledged $1.25 million. I would like to know the details of who donated the $996 million from other sources. I seem no reason to not disclose all the details, just like you have already done with NALT etc... Your news release on Jan 27th identifying most of the third party participants and clearly put this information into the public domain. Thanks, Brad ' We will get back to you as soon as possible with a response. Dated Feb 11th

bradmcarthur asked 20 days ago

Thank you for your patience while the RDN worked through finalizing the contribution agreements with our funding partners. We can now announce that the RDN has secured agreements with The Province, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada, Nature Trust of BC, through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and The Sitka Foundation. A news release and What’s New update have been shared on the Get Involved RDN webpage at getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase/news_feed/completion-of-fundraising.
Condition of sale was to secure 7.5 million not including funds From the RDN borrowing 21 plus million if $ 2.51 million from Donations , the RDN is shy of 5 million to complete this purchase By January 31 2026. For the Hamilton Marsh, Where do the taxpayers stand please reply

kenabowerman asked about 1 month ago

Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and Mosaic Forest Management (Mosaic) are continuing positive conversations in efforts to secure Hamilton Marsh lands as a regional park and conservation area. Mosaic has agreed to revise the purchase terms to $28 million from $30 million, subject to Board approval. The RDN is optimistic that an agreement can be concluded to secure this critical forest and wetland area and that no further borrowing, beyond the $21.2 million already approved, is required. The generosity from the community has been overwhelming and the RDN is grateful for the support from the community and the groups involved in the fundraising campaign. For reference, the financial implications of the $21.2 million borrowing have been updated with the 2026 BC Assessment data on the Get Involved RDN webpage.
In the RDN news release on Jan 27th the following was stated The $2.5 million raised to date by funding partners includes: • $250,000 in donations raised by Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT). • $103,000 in pledges secured by Mt. Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) and Hamilton Wetlands and Forest Preservation Society that are contingent on the purchase being completed. • $1,250,000 in other pledges that are contingent on the purchase being completed. • $996,000 in other land conservation sources. I would like to know the details on who pledged $1.25 million. I would like to know the details of who donated the $996 million from other sources. Thanks, Brad

bradmcarthur asked about 1 month ago

The RDN is unable to disclose the details of the funding sources currently as staff are actively working with funding partners to finalize contribution agreements. Once the agreements have been approved by the RDN Board and signed off by all parties, the RDN will issue a news release and share the information on the Get Involved project webpage.
When the Hamilton Marsh gets subdivided will the zoning for all the land change from managed forest to something else? If so what else?

bradmcarthur asked 4 months ago

The subdivision application does not automatically change the land use zoning. The property will remain under its existing zoning designation until a formal rezoning process is initiated. The Regional District of Nanaimo’s intent is to acquire the property as a Regional Park and Conservation Area. No change in zoning is required for this purpose, as parks are a permitted use in every zone under the current zoning bylaw.
I would like to the the Hamilton marsh purchase agreement, Where or how can I see it?

bradmcarthur asked 4 months ago

The Contract of Purchase and Sale is in-camera and, pursuant to the Community Charter, is considered confidential and not available for public distribution.
I can barely afford my property taxes now. How is purchasing a $30 million Marsh going to affect my taxes? Thank you.

Blueshurler asked 4 months ago

The purchase price would be funded through $7.5 million of external fundraising, $1.3 million of reserve contributions and $21.2 million of long-term debt. The long-term debt would result in an increased cost to the Regional Parks and Trails Service. To understand how the debt repayment would impact property taxes for your area, please visit our FAQ section. More detailed information about the entire Regional Parks and Trails Service can be found in the preliminary 2026-2030 Financial Plan shared on our website.
Has the First Nations been consulted or involved with the Hamilton Marsh purchase process?

bradmcarthur asked 5 months ago

Yes, the RDN engaged at an early stage with area First Nations to invite their comments and insight on the potential purchase.
Why are my questions not being shared with everyone as you stated you would do?

bradmcarthur asked 5 months ago

All the questions asked through the Q&A function of the Get Involved website have been answered publicly and are available to be viewed by anyone. Here is the link the Q&A section getinvolved.rdn.ca/hamilton-marsh-conditional-purchase?tool=qanda#tool_tab. You can also navigate to it be scrolling to the start of the "What's New" section of the Get Involved website, you should see a title beside "What's New" labeled "Questions", if you click on the word Questions it will show a list of the questions posed by members of the community and the answers the RDN has provided. Please note, questions only appear on this list after an answer has been provided.
Firstly Why are the has the RDN agreed to purchase at this time of economic uncertainty and a lack of funding for other more critical services and Why has there been no public consultation over the past 20 years? Why does the RDN need this parkland? The RDN has already more that 2000 hectares providing a ratio of approx 92 people / hectare, far greater than most municipalities! Secondly, The agreed price $30,000,000? I think it is fair that as requested by taxpayers you share the independent 3rd party appraisal at this time. Why hasn't a costed plan for the proposed development and maintenance been prepared ? Thirdly, Why hasn't the current owners been asked to donate the land to the RDN through conservation programs such as the Canada Ecological Gifts Program, they would have received significant tax benefits. That would of been a WIN WIN ! Thank you

P&JHobern asked 5 months ago

Acquiring Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority for the Regional District of Nanaimo for many years. The 2023-2026 Regional District of Nanaimo Strategic Plan prioritizes protecting vital lands and ecosystems and includes a goal of accelerating the acquisition of regional parkland to secure and steward natural areas with high conservation and recreation values. Hamilton Marsh contains many priority West Coast Region (WCR) environmental values including previous occurrences of species and ecosystems at risk.
Hamilton Marsh was first identified in the Regional District of Nanaimo’s (RDN) Parks System Plan in 1994 following public interest in preserving the site. It was confirmed again through public engagement in 2005 during the development of the Regional Parks and Trails Plan, as well as in 2022 as part of developing the Parks and Trails Strategy.
The $30 million purchase price is considered fair market value for the property. The RDN has invested considerable time and resources over decades to advance this conservation initiative and now has a fair deal in place to secure the lands for parkland conservation. Funding partners are actively being pursued, including conservation groups and the provincial ministries.
If the RDN is successful in securing the property 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. Developing management plans requires a considerable amount of time and resources, developing a management plan prior to purchasing a property would not be considered an efficient use of resources.