The marina would be situated on the Songhees waterfront on the north side of Victoria's Middle Harbour. (Victoria International Marina)

A group of kayakers in Victoria has hired a lawyer in an effort to stop a proposed mega-yacht marina from being built in the city's busy Middle Harbour.

Plans for the proposed Victoria International Marina include a restaurant, coffee shop, marine-related businesses and 54 slips for vessels longer than 20 metres.

'Public access to these navigable waters by non-powered vessels and the lack of proper public consultation process are the underlying issues,' —Dorothea Hoffman, South Island Sea Kayaking Association

But the South Island Sea Kayaking Association has presented a legal brief opposing the plans to federal Environment Minister John Baird. Critics have said the 2.5-hectare marina site is too large, making it a danger to float planes and smaller vessels such as kayaks that currently use the harbour.

About 200 people turned up at a public meeting on Tuesday night to hear staff from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada and the provincial Land Management Branch explain the complex process that will determine whether the $20-million project can go ahead.

No public process

But the kayaking association's treasurer, Dorothea Hoffman, said the closed-door review has cut out public participation, and demanded the federal government convene a public review panel to assess the project.

The marina would consist of two one-storey buildings on either side of a 52-slip marina, according to the designers. (Victoria International Marina)

"Safety issues, public access to these navigable waters by non-powered vessels and the lack of proper public consultation process are the underlying issues that the independent review panel would be asked to consider, and it's the only vehicle which would provide for full public participation and full disclosure of the potential impact of the proposed marina," said Hoffman.

Even the newly minted federal candidate for Saanich Gulf Islands weighed in at the public meeting. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May questioned why the internal environmental assessment does not include social and community concerns.

"I have been involved in a number of environmental assessments where the scope of socio-economic impacts are broad. I think there is an overly narrow interpretation in this instance," said May.

On the project's website, Community Marine Concepts says it has responded to concerns raised by kayakers, by raising a bridge to improve kayak access behind the marina, adding a public kayak launch dock and storage racks, and providing public access to some part of the docks and the coffee house.

The project must first be approved by Transport Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the provincial Integrated Land Management Branch before its backers can apply for a development permit from the City of Victoria, officials at the meeting said.

But no one on the panel was willing to predict how long that might take.