The question of whether there is room at Roberts Bank for both a planned second container terminal and a proposed oil shipping terminal remains unanswered by proponents. The Alberta and federal governments, which are backing the oil terminal, have not provided details on how the two major projects could coexist at the same location.
Existing Infrastructure at Roberts Bank
Roberts Bank in Delta already hosts two artificial islands: one for B.C. Ferries' Tsawwassen terminal and the other for the Roberts Bank Superport, which includes the Westshore coal terminal and Deltaport, Canada's largest container-handling facility. A $3.5-billion second container terminal is planned on a new 1.3-square-kilometre artificial island adjacent to the existing facilities, with a construction start hoped for in 2028.
Environmental Concerns and Approvals
The second container terminal was approved after an environmental assessment determined it would cause significant adverse effects on the environment, threatening species like chinook salmon, orcas, and birds. The project was deemed key to supporting Canada's economic growth and the Pacific Gateway trade corridor. If an oil shipping terminal were also to be built, additional environmental impacts would need to be tolerated, but the question of space remains critical.
Lack of Answers from Proponents
The federal government referred questions to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, with Natural Resources Canada communications adviser Maria Ladouceur stating in an email: “They are best suited to respond.” The port authority says it has no information on the proposed oil shipping terminal and has not been involved in discussions on the pipeline project. “It’s important to keep in mind that these are two separate projects: The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and the Alberta’s west coast pipeline proposal,” said Haley Hodgson, director of communications for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Unanswered Questions
The port authority did not respond to questions about whether there is room for both projects, where the oil shipping terminal could be located, or whether the two projects could be combined or co-ordinated. The Alberta government also did not respond to similar inquiries. The land onshore from Roberts Bank Superport is Tsawwassen First Nation treaty lands, while to the north at Brunswick Point is land in B.C.'s Agricultural Land Reserve, and to the south are residential neighbourhoods, limiting available space.
