Dart seeks to dig up 7MB rock

| 02/03/2016 | 124 Comments

water stumble(CNS): Dart Realty (Cayman) has plans to submit a coastal works application to “conduct site investigations and remove samples of beachrock” just below the high-water mark on Seven Mile Beach, the developer confirmed in a statement Wednesday. The island’s biggest landowner is proposing to take rock from a trial site north of Tiki Beach, where it has plans for another 5-star resort because it is “creating an unpleasant water entry experience”, Dart officials said, as it is too shallow to swim over and beachgoers could slip and stumble if they try to walk over it.

In the release the developer explained why it was seeking a licence for work in the heart of Cayman’s most famous stretch of beach: “The objectives of the trial include collecting samples of beachrock for analysis, testing the proposed removal methodology, ascertaining the thickness of the beachrock and what lies beneath it and determining whether the beachrock can be broken up to produce suitable beach replacement sand.”

Dart said the application was supported by studies from recognised experts, including Dr Brian Jones, who has undertaken several studies of Cayman’s geology, and Dr Richard Seymour, both of whom supported the rock removal.

At pains to point out that the rock, which is essentially cemented sand, is not reef, the developer said the beachrock supports macroalgae and encrusting sponges with a relatively low density of coral colonies and significantly less diversity in coral species than nearby areas. Dart claims the research indicates that the rock is not functioning as a mini-breakwater and does not change the main along-shore and cross-shore systems which transport sand on Seven Mile Beach.

But the trial is just a first step, as the powerful developer intends to make a second application to remove all of the rock which covers part of the beachfront land Dart now owns, courtesy of the controversial NRA agreement.

The developer said that the application was being submitted in line with the proper processes, and work would fit around the established turtle nesting patterns. But following a review by the Department of Environment and Cabinet, if the application is successful excavators could be digging up samples by April, with a full scale removal of rock in November.

“Dart Realty is committed to responsible, sustainable development and remains a conscientious steward of its land as well as Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach,” said Dart Realty Chief Operating Officer Jackie Doak. “We are taking a thorough, measured approach in evaluating the removal of beachrock.”

The beachrock is not a new formation. It is a natural phenomenon which happens when groundwater meets seawater in the sand. It was there when the developer acquired the land and made its infamous deal with the Cayman government, recently declared unlawful by the Office of the Auditor General.

Dart said the land north of Tiki Beach, because of the depth of the beach frontage as well as the connection to the Cayman Islands Yacht Club, was an ideal location for another luxury resort but the area was very different to the rest of Seven Mile Beach.

Still in the conceptual phase but estimated to have 175 rooms and 80 residences, Dart said the new luxury resort next to the Kimpton would increase the island’s hotel room stock, a main factor preventing growth in air arrivals.

“We are approaching our latest sustainable development project with the goal of opening the five-star resort in 2020 and realising more than US$600 million in economic impact and up to 1,200 jobs during the three-year construction period. Once the resort is open, it will employ more than 450 people and contribute significantly to Cayman’s economy through government revenue and visitor spending,” added Doak. “We are also committed to continuing the pipeline of employment opportunities in the construction sector by transitioning the workforce to new development projects when others reach completion, such as Kimpton Seafire, which will open in November 2016.”

In a further effort to win support for digging up Seven Mile Beach, the developer has also released a video showing the rocky area and details of the beachrock (see below).

CNS contacted the ministry responsible for the environment Monday with questions about Dart’s plans after we learned the developer had made a presentation to the PPM caucus requesting permission to do the trial without a coastal works licence. But officials said that no application had been made to government for a coastal works licence at that time and they were unable to comment on the issues raised until they received one.

Dart Coastal Works Application for Beachrock Removal from Dart Realty on Vimeo.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Oh dear oh dear…clearly they didnt see the rock when they were buying the land, such an unexpected oversight…it’s like that time some developer built a school and a sort of town thing next to a dump and then realized there was a dump there, so tried to move it……oh wait, its the same developer….who’d have thunk?! next they’ll be re-routing everyone to increase the value of their own lands, oh wait, they do that already……at least they’re not planning to cover west bay road with a giant bridge thing….oh wait……anyway, i’m sure they’re great for the economy…..nothing ever closes down in camana bay…..oh wait……..you know what this island needs? more restaurants and office space and roundabouts…..oh wait…

  2. JTB says:

    Damn that man Dart

    How dare he impose his investment, his jobs, and his high-quality developments on this island?

    How dare he?

  3. Anonymous says:

    Get over it. Dart owns Cayman and there is not an elected representative in the land who would go against him. Money talks and money buys!

    • Anonymous says:

      Any Caymanian 20 – 40 that has read this comment should ask themselves, do you want “to get over it” or do you want to get even? If you don’t like this new crap, here’s a suggestion, start a long protest along WB road between the two roundabouts at Camana Bay… them moneyed up people won’t want to be visiting there while that’s going on… do it long enough and run off his business and the wealthy visiting tourists, and their bully tactics may stop too ! Stop giving in to the bullying by the money hungry expats and Cayman 1%… don’t forget whether they have status or PR, they came from somewhere else or have the funds to move… after they f*ck up your country they’ll just go back to where they came from and tell you it was all your fault… stop them now, or be their slave for the rest of your life…

  4. Anonymous says:

    Input from DOE would be nice. What do they have to say about this?

  5. Anonymous says:

    Nuff rock in West Bay, dig it yes.

  6. Sharkey says:

    I think that rockon has written a teachable comment for him and government. .

  7. Anonymous says:

    They solved this long ago in most other resorts by simply building piers so the tourists can walk over the rocks to the deeper water. They’ve had them in Eilat, Israel for 30 years now.

    It sometimes seems that the Dart approach to problems always involves the maximum environmental impact rather than the minimum.

    • Anonymous says:

      Unbelievable, this man will stop at nothing to get what he wants, I say it is time for Cayman to stand up to this man. Mother nature put those rocks there for the same reason it built the natural reefs around these three islands, to protect and feed the juvenile sea life, and to protect the beach, if you move that stretch of rocks then the tail end of seven-mile beach will begin to erode. Why are we letting these people play God with our and our children’s future? enough is enough! he can drive his guest to a more desirable part of the beach, public beach is close, they can walk there, or build walkways over the rocks. If he is allowed to do this, then all other hotel operators will have some reason why they need to remove rocks/turtle grass to enhance their product, we have done enough damage, we nee to put a cap on it all, and hope we have not gone too far, Cayman lets start to come together, he cant do this if we all stand up to him, or are we just going to stand by and let him do like he did with the historical road that we and our forefathers walked/rode/drove for decades? after removing the rocks, in ten years he will have to put concrete there to save the remaining beach in that are, this is insane

      • Anonymous says:

        Here we go again, another brainiest on ecology! how and why would all the sand erode from 7 mile beach? Before you open your mouth try to use the brain first.

        • Anonymous says:

          I did not say all the sand from seven mile beach!, I said the tail end, there is a good thing we have some people with brains in Cayman, fortunately for us and you, the brainy type like you are not running things, or are you mad that I got 25 likes and you got none? normally do not reply to such, but I haven’t showered yet this evening, promise I will not respond to any more, it is obvious that you want you and yours to be a slave to the richest man in the land, practice bowing down, as king Dart will require it soon

      • Anonymous says:

        Blame your West Bay representative for the deal he made with Dart, that was the beginning of bitching up the West Bay Beach/Road. When you have cross eyes it is hard for son done dose to see where you are really looking.

      • Anonymous says:

        The West Bay representative who gave Dart the West Bay road, is the one who has caused this ongoing saga. His heart was pure and his hands were clean. I guess Jeff Webb’s are clean too.
        The love of money is the route of all EVIL.

  8. Sharkey says:

    I am wondering if everyone know the reason why this area in question has not accumulated any more sand, and still continue to erosion in storms . The rock that is there , has been there for over 60 years that i know of . I believe that mother nature put it there for a good reason, we have to very careful how we try to correct mother nature .

    Again how can one think that because he has Cayman Status and money , that the other 13,970 caymanians should sit down let him and government destroy the Island
    I do not wish to be negative about development, but I think that development is going in a disastrous direction with too many canals cut into the Island , and protective barriers to shore line been removed .

  9. 345 says:

    I see the Rolling Stones are going to play in Cuba. Maybe they can change some lyrics for Dart, say for example “You can always get what you want…”.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Just as expected the Cayman Compass has an article that reads very pro-Dart. Is anyone surprised?

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, the Compass is in Dart’s pocket, that’s for sure. Its an American newspaper, written by Americans for Americans. Heck, they even changed the form of English to “American English”, a further move towards denying Caymanians their identity. And they have the nerve to tout themselves as part and parcel of the Caymanian community. What a joke.They must be peeing themselves laughing (in private, of course). Dart is a deadly serious entity, intent on achieving its aims whatever the cost. A dreadful mistake to allow them in here. Total deconstruction of Caymanian culture.

  11. rockon says:

    You would have thought, given the extensive erosion that has occurred in front of the sea wall Dart erected at his own residence, that he would have learned a thing or two about what comes from messing with nature… There is only one Intelligent Designer and it never pays in the long-run to mess with what He hath founded on the seas.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Please be aware that Dart enough money to buy all the experts they need to prove what ever they want proved. So there is no question that the results of a “test”, study’s, or samples etc will have their experts saying there is not problem go ahead.

    Their are many experts out there that prostitute themselves for this type of thing for a living.

    We should not do the same and let some organization mess with our bottom just because they lots of money. our elected officials need to stop prostituting our country to Dart.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Perhaps the lazy fat tourists could try walking 100 yards to the north or south to avoid the rocks. Leave the beach alone!

  14. Sam Putt Putt says:

    It seems the benevolent omnipotence that is Dart is no longer so benevolent.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Cayman Islands Ltd (Dart Realty)

  16. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians sold Dart this land. It all goes back to Caymanians.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Of course he will win because money talks and your elected officials have big ears when money is talking and greasing palms.

  18. Anonymous says:

    yawn…what a storm in a teacup…just let the experts reveiw and decide accrodingly….too much watery hyperbole in these comments….

  19. Anonymous says:

    Usually s supporter of DART but this one is definitely wrong. Walked around there many times. Nature put it there…leave it alone.

    • Anonymous says:

      nature probably had trees/bush/wildlife originally in the place you live right now?…….what did you do?

  20. Anonymous says:

    I saw a 60 year old lady with extremely generous proportions wearing a THONG on SMB last week.

    Believe me, that did NOT make for a ‘pleasant water entry experience’ either.

    Maybe they should crack down on that. (No pun intended)

    • Anonymous says:

      sorry about that Anon.
      I didn’t realize till I got back to my room that I had it on backwards.

  21. The Average Caymanian says:

    We can no longer question the audacity of this developer. He was empowered when he was given status by the UDP. He is now a Caymanian with full rights and yes, the money to deforest wetlands and storm buffers, redirect traditional pathways and roads and now, unearth the very bedrock of this Island to remake the Cayman Islands in ‘his’ image. He is the largest land owner in the Cayman Islands, so not only does he own the most valuable land resources (including the Central Mangrove Wetlands), he owns the most valuable coastal land and most of George Town, not to mention the fact that he is a shadow share holder of businesses that span every industry in this country. This is our future Cayman. A future you no longer own.

    While you frolic at Camana Bay with your friends, paying money to the pied piper, he is remodeling your world. A world that existed before all of us. And if he has his way, the world including what is left of that Seven Mile Beach reef, will be completely transformed… no sorry, “destroyed”.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Removing the beach-rock is not enough. They should dig a 500 foot strip right through to North Sound. They could import sand and spread it on the edge of the channel creating an extra mile of beach and actually making the beach 7 miles long. West bay could then be a separate Island and have their own dump, and access between North Sound and SMB much easier for all the nice folk in gated communities.

    Mac’s wife could create a real estate company to sell all the new waterfront land created in West Bay, and a share of the proceeds distributed through the nation-building fund.

    Ain’t progress great.

    • Anonymous says:

      Let me guess your from george town where theres no crime

    • Anonymous says:

      As long as cruise ships can traverse the canal from 7 mile beach to North Sound this would be excellent. The walls of the canal could be used as a FREE cruise ship dock. We could remove the existing bridge and Mac could become emperor of West Bay which would be a separate island with his own single member government. We could then implement a visa system for all Bayas’ to visit the remainder of the island. Return to paradise!

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s coming.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Trump is being accused of taking the American people for a bunch of suckers. Can’t help but feel the same about this developer and its mouthpieces. A slick bunch, for sure.

  24. Rock Solid says:

    Appears a far more ecologically sound basis than that of which others have been permitted to carry out at the Eastern end of South South. Please proceed, nothing to see here.

  25. Anonymous says:

    I bet it will be fabulous. Can’t wait to try the cocktails at the bar and the food there. Let them do whatever they want, the only people moaning are those too mean and stingy to go there.

  26. Anonymous says:

    DART’s brilliantly conceived, engineered and installed sea wall at Tiki Beach is typical example, of why no changes should be allowed, in or near the shoreline. Just look how the beach around that area has been negatively affected. That wall was built about 14 years ago for them to build luxury town homes there, but immediately the beach started disappearing so the homes never got built.
    And now because of that stupid wall, the beach rock is exposed in a larger area and for more of the year than ever before, and now instead of tearing down that recently constructed wall, which should never have been permitted, (and Tiki Beach Restaurant) and let nature bring back the sand, they want to do more damage.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree. First step is to remove the sea wall at Tiki Beach and let the beach return to it’s natural state, which will improve the beach to the north as well. Let’s see what it looks like after one year.

  27. Anonymous says:

    I bet if it was in front of the public beach Caymanians wouldn’t have a problem with it. But because it’s Dart… They will protest everything he does. Crabs in a bucket.

    • Anonymous says:

      Except that makes no sense because we Caymanians love the beach and use it every weekend.

    • Areal Camanian says:

      Anonymous, I wish there were a “Stupid” selection along with the “Troll” options. You certainly deserve it.

  28. Anonymous says:

    No way bobo …not today not no way! unpleasant beach experience…thats nature live with it

  29. Sharkey says:

    This man might know how to do development, but he don’t know how to do mother nature. The next good south wind or hurricane will tell us .

  30. George R. Ebanks says:

    This is a “two punch” stratergy!..”punch one” is to remove what they term beachrock which is a natural ecological phenomenon and of vital importance to various marine habitats.

    “Punch two” is when we are still confused by the blitz of “punch one” and the totality of bedrock and beachrock is removed for commercial purposes.

    I would approach this proposal with urgent caution!

    • Anonymous says:

      Punch 3 – shift the rest of the road so you can build larger hotels ‘on the beach’ but ‘set well back’. tis easier to do it a second time.

      • SSM345 says:

        Punch 4. The Port is going ahead in GT, and guess who is building it?
        Punch 5. The Final Blow. No more SMB. No more tourism.

    • Rock On says:

      What you forgot to mention was the potential for there to be an undiscovered oil field under there and the effect that would have on gas prices! You dig?

  31. Anonymous says:

    A picture is worth a thousand words. I say “remove the rock” and let the tourists and locals alike, have a better beach experience in this area; rather than getting a buck toe, stone bruise and a sea egg in my foot bottom, that I will need someone to pee on for me.

    • Uri Neighter says:

      Anonymous 10:42:
      I say, old Top. You don’t need any of that. Just post your address and I will be glad to come over and pee on you.

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m sorry, what made you think that a local like you or I would be welcome there? Remember, you’re allowed in to prop the Camana Bay merchants up but not expected to try to live there.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Here it comes folks, next we’ll heard about digging up the land from that area to ‘Dart’s Bridge’ so that yachts can go from North Sound to SMB…. seems to me THAT’S THE PLAN and removing more of our valuable and fragile ecosystem is another step in that direction, … land, hotel, then WB road, clear water and next canal from Nth Sound to SMB.

    But no politicians or leaders willing to put aside party, Lodge, special friends and do what’s right for once.

  33. Anonymous says:

    If the PPM says yes, it is a shame that the people can not call for a vote of “no confidence” and get rid of them before they approve this.
    Greed and ego by one of the richest men in the world should be reason to sell out our Island.

  34. That's What She Said says:

    “creating an unpleasant water entry experience”

    ?

    Dart’s Marketing/PR Department should…no, Needs to win an award just for that line alone.

  35. Anonymous says:

    More bull but who cares because they got what they wanted. And the gutless wieners will just follow along and do as they are told.
    Go for it big Jack as you are the man

  36. Anonymous says:

    It really seems that Dart Realty is committed to take over by whatever means necessary, the land required for it’s development and remains a steadfast steward of its prime directive as well as Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach’s eventual transformation. All this is being facilitated with by the helping hand of our CIG smoothing the way, either negating or altering the regulatory rules and process to suit it’s most value client.

    Doesn’t seem to matter what party is in power, they all seem to be in Dart’s pocket. Money talks as usual, what else is new?

    • P&L says:

      Exactly… and in addition to appeasing Dart with whatever regulatory changes he wants… and allowing him to gain so much control and own so much… and basically giving him our public beach…

      We… and by that I mean stupid incompetent Government which I’m sorry to say includes most of the Civil Service) agreed to bypass millions and millions of dollars in government fees.

      I heard that they should have collected $16M in planning fees from the Kimpton but did not. I hope it’s not true but that’s what I heard dem eedioyuts did. Why not collect at least half?

      I also heard that they not only waived the fees on the Kimption but that they have agreed to waive planning fees for ALL Dart the Fart’s projects ever from public beach to West Bay… to infinity and beyond basically. Again, hope it’s not true but dat’s wah de marl road sey!

      Think of how many millions and millions they gave away with that deal. It hurts my heart and pisses me off. I wouldn’t feel so sad and be so mad if we had more than roads and CBay so show for it.

      We should have the best schools in the Caribbean. We should have great Government. Caymanians should be thriving not just barely surviving. Collectively we should just be in a better position and our society should be more harmonious. All of these things could have been ours if we had just done it better… But alas… We have become the land of polar opposites to the many rainbows.

      Not much we can do to stop him now… but at least don’t fold so easily. Take what’s due and use it strategically to improve our socioeconomic scenario.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Next thing you know, Dart will want to change or Motto from “He hath founded it upon the seas”. To “He did not get it right and we fixed it.” Having unlimited funds does not give them the right to do this. It does serve as a test for our government to prove they have the peoples best interest at heart. I will bet the fail that test and once again we lose the battle against “the machine”. It will no longer be “God Bless the Cayman Islands” but rather “God help the Cayman Islands.”
    I am saddened and ashamed that they would even suggest this.

    • Anonymous says:

      One government closed the road access and gave it to him, so he expects the same treatment now with the removal of the rock that is there fir a purpose. B this will be the test for the PPM. Let’s see what they are going to do? Stop pandering to the Oligopolist!!!

  38. Anonymous says:

    Good. Dig that crap out of there. Should have been done a long time ago.

  39. Anonymous says:

    NFW!!

  40. Island Bundy says:

    The opposite side of the beach rock attracts large amounts of very large Parrot Fish who feed and clean in the area. While I generally support Dart projects this one I would hesitate to move forward with.

  41. Anonymous says:

    Sounds like they are trying to say the rock is not rock so it is not necessary. It is there because mother nature formed it there for a reason. They can pay all the experts how ever much they want to to say differently. But this is just wrong and PPM needs to say “NO”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      I remember Mother Nature had generously provided us with tons of useless bushes where they built your house too my friend.

  42. Anonymous says:

    UDP put us in Dart’s back pocket, I am curious to see what the PPM are going to do. Everything that Dart wants he gets. Stop the madness, now. He could build 10 hotels, see how many caymanians will be employed, just like all his construction works. Allowed to bring in cheap labour and the money sent offshore.
    When will we have a government that can say NO. Vote NO in 2017.

    • ' says:

      I had apply one time for a construction job with Mr Dart, they tell me he don’t do construction and I must check the local contractors that building his buildings for him. No suh, you ever hear so much foolishness in your life?

    • D. Tailor says:

      Unfortunately for us, Dart has another back pocket.

  43. Ex-Patriot says:

    SAY WHAT!!! Da wha you get.
    Give me an inch and I’ll take a mile…..or seven miles in this case.

  44. SKEPTICAL says:

    Now it may seem simplistic but, if Mother Nature intended there to be sand where these rocks are situated, that is what we would have. Change what is the natural geology in that area, and you might see some dramatic changes elsewhere.

  45. Anonymous says:

    Looking at the photo that accompanies this article, the beach is widest opposite the rock formation, therefore it appears that the rock does act as a breakwater.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Leave the beach alone!

  47. Anonymous says:

    No!

  48. Anonymous says:

    See how the beach bows out (because it is protected from erosion) by that “beach rock” (formally known as a fragile marine ecosystem supporting a myriad of beautiful threatened species). Yet Dart claims it is neither a breakwater nor a reef? Can we please leave a little bit of paradise alone?

  49. Anonymous says:

    In dart we trust….its rock or bust…..

  50. Anonymous says:

    “Dart Realty is committed to responsible, sustainable development and remains a conscientious steward of its land as well as Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach,” said Dart Realty Chief Operating Officer Jackie Doak. “We are taking a thorough, measured approach in evaluating the removal of beachrock”

    Can you say this with straight face Jackie?

    • Heather says:

      To whom would she be speaking Anonymous??

      • Anonymous says:

        The Caymanian public who have welcomed her as one of them and trust her to do what is right for her employer AND her new country.

        • Anonymous says:

          It will be interesting to see how the Dart controlled Cayman Compass deal with this story. I am sure once again they will gush about what a wonderful thing Dart is doing for, what used to be our, fair island.

    • Anon says:

      It’s helpful to hear the feedback from the local engineering and scientific ‘experts’ after 2 minutes of consideration. I’m sure it makes the actual experts wonder why they dedicated so much time and effort to education and study…..

      • Anonymous says:

        What Studies? I will be very interested to see those studies and if they actually say ‘you should rip out the ledges’. Anyone who has ever seen a science report knows it has a lot of caveats. Nothing is ever that straightforward, especially in the sea, much less along a dynamic beach. My suspicion is selective reporting by Dart-PR. But, when the EIA request is submitted, all of the documents will be public so we’ll all see, right? Its easy enough to prove me wrong. Just publish the consultants’ reports in their entirety. (Including terms of reference. What you’re asked to assess has a huge bearing on what your report says.) – In short, I will trust the scientists, but not Dart-PR.

        • Anonymous says:

          So true … we ask for a recommendation on dealing with the dump but it MUST stay in GT. Surely the better questions is “what should we do with the dump?” with no caveats?

    • Anonymous says:

      Can you say Poker Face?

      • Anonymous says:

        What will he want next’! !!! Whatever it i, he will get it. Has he ‘bewitched’ the people of this island?

        • Anonymous says:

          Indeed he has. Wonder if he’ll manage to pull this one off? I’d like to say “no way” but in view of that WB road stunt I’m not entirely sure.

      • A. Trebek says:

        What is, “How to wake up Lady Gaga”?

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