Building a new and modern marina in Port Credit would open up Mississauga and its waterfront to “the entire world,” says the city councillor who represents the area.
The huge project, which would cost an estimated $75 million and provide a dramatic new look to Port Credit Harbour, was among eight major priorities submitted by the City of Mississauga to Ottawa last week for consideration of federal funding and other support.
City officials have said such a new attraction would fast become a destination spot for both local residents and out-of-towners, rejuvenating the area and delivering an economic boost to Mississauga’s waterfront community.
“This is city building at its finest, quite frankly,” Mississauga Ward 1 Coun. Stephen Dasko said last week at city council, noting the plan includes not only new parkland and housing, but also additional boat slips that “are one of the few true great revenue generators for Mississauga.”
A revamped marina in Port Credit will “open up the waterfront to not just Mississauga, but to the entire world,” he added.
Image shows site of a new Port Credit Marina planned for Mississauga. (Image: City of Mississauga)
Dasko said the plan, where funding is concerned, is to split the $75 million tab (most-recent estimate) equally between the city and provincial and federal governments.
Mayor Carolyn Parrish also supported the marina plan, saying such a revamped waterfront facility will bring in more tourism dollars — helping Mississauga pay its portion of the building costs.
“Tourism last year, I think, brought $2.5 billion into the area, so things like this actually do tend to pay for themselves over a very short time,” she said.
Discussion of the marina was prompted by Ward. 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla, who expressed uncertainty about supporting the project. She said she didn’t have enough specific information related to the cost, among other things.
“I just don’t know enough to be able to support this at this point,” Damerla said, adding council discussion about the marina initiative in recent years seems to have inexplicably moved from viewing it as, perhaps, a “luxury item” to now looking at it as “something we need to do.”
Mississauga Ward 1 Coun. Stephen Dasko said plans for a new marina represent “city building at its finest.”
Dasko responded by noting the project has been a topic of extensive discussion on many occasions at council the past seven years.
He added a “very strong business case” for a new marina has been “on the books for quite some time.”
City staff said last week during discussion at council they chose a marina plan that “provides the most parkland, but also provides the most (boat) slips and the most revenue back to the city.”
The marina plan to overhaul the existing waterfront facility and significantly add to it has been in the works for years.
In fall 2024, the city submitted a required environmental assessment to the provincial government. The EA has since been in the hands of Ontario’s environment ministry for review and final approval.
Plans for a new Mississauga marina also include a large waterfront park/green space. For more details on that and other components of the undertaking, visit the project website.
City officials said earlier the waterfront overhaul seeks to maximize the location’s advantage as Lake Ontario’s deepest natural harbour in making a new-look Port Credit Harbour a must-visit for Mississauga residents and people from outside the city.
Mississauga operates two other marinas in the city — Lakefront Promenade and Credit Village marinas.
The Port Credit Harbour area of Mississauga. (Photo: City of Mississauga)
(Note: Cover photo is not an image of marina in Mississauga)
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