Two of Cole Island’s historic naval munitions depots are slated for a $200,000 remediation, Citified has learned.

Situated on a small islet in Esquimalt Harbour, a total of five buildings consisting of storage facilities, ammo sheds and a marine guard quarters are the surviving remnants of what was once a collection of sixteen naval structures.

Constructed in the 1850’s, Cole Island and its remaining artefacts were recognized as a National Historic Site in 2006. It was then that remediation efforts began with a focus on overall sight cleanup, the installation of a general purpose dock and a long overdue initial restoration. 

According to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, tasked with overseeing the latest round of restorative work, crews have undertaken preliminary efforts with another five months budgeted for completion.

“The project is [now] underway and much of the historic evidence has been analyzed,” said Richard Linzey of the ministry’s Heritage Branch, adding that joinery and carpentry work will be completed by February of next year.

$90,000 of the project’s initial $180,000 budget has been allocated by the federal government, with $90,000 coming from the province. However, Linzey confirms additional emergency works have been identified and will push the budget higher by approximately $20,000. C

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