Cabinet OKs ‘damaging’ East End shoreline project
(CNS): Cabinet has granted a coastal works licence for a groyne and the excavation of swim areas along the beachfront of the Wyndham Reef Resort in East End despite clear recommendations from the Department of Environment several years ago that the application should be denied because of the potential damage to the marine environment and erosion of the beach, which is an active turtle nesting habitat. The project is largely aimed at addressing the sargassum in the area, but the work will push it onto an adjacent resort’s beach.
In a clear indication that Cabinet has now abandoned any pretence of sustainability when it comes to the environment, on 18 June, members of the government’s inner circle approved the application by the Thompson Group, which owns the resort on block 73A parcel 80, despite the damage it will likely cause, which has been fully detailed and explained by scientists at the DoE.
Aside from the problems this will cause at this location and for the resort’s neighbours, the DoE warned that because this project is being billed as a way of managing sargassum, giving permission would set an “environmentally damaging precedent” for the construction of other groynes to repel the summer influx of sargassum, which can build up on some of Grand Cayman’s beaches.
“The DoE understands the challenges that the applicant faces with the issue of sargassum impacts to the beach. However, construction of the groyne and the excavation of the swim areas would lead to direct environmental impacts to the offshore environment and to the beach due to the altering of the coastal sand transport system. The potential beach erosion for the Morritt’s property and the diversion of sargassum onto this neighbouring property outweighs the potential minor benefit of the creation of the partially enclosed swim area,” the DoE said in its 2020 report on the application, which was sent to Cabinet.
The department said there were more suitable measures for shoreline collection of sargassum that could be implemented on this property.
Detailing the negative effects of this project, the experts said it would destroy a significant area of the seabed in the immediate footprint of the proposed groyne. This area consists of seagrass beds and emergent beach rock, which are important marine habitats for a variety of marine species.
Impacts on seagrass beds are a particular concern, as their displacement by the construction of the groyne will result in the direct loss of an important feature and contributor to the health of the marine ecosystem, which is already heavily impacted by coastal works. Seagrass beds provide living habitat, food and oxygen to marine fauna and also play a vital role in maintaining good water quality and shoreline protection, the scientists explained.
Work to clear a swim area has not been accurately defined in the application in terms of the exact areas to contain the works or the timeframe for the works, and the DoE said no approval should be given for coastal works that don’t specify the areas that will be impacted. The Doe said it had recommended against the excavation of the existing swim areas back in 2001 due to the concerns of shoreline retreat, but the department was ignored, and as a result, there has been increased beach erosion.
“Given that the coastline is already suffering from severe beach profile loss, the DoE would not recommend further reducing the shoreline profile or deepening the offshore environment, which would increase its exposure to wave action,” the DoE said in the report to Cabinet.
Further beach erosion has also been caused in the area by previous inappropriate sargassum beach cleaning, which has impacted the beach profile and the suitability for turtle nesting, though it is still an active turtle-nesting beach.
“Impacts of the proposed construction and of the groyne could potentially impact hatching and nesting turtles directly. If Cabinet is minded to grant permission for the construction of the groyne, the DoE would recommend that conditions of approval be implemented to mitigate impacts as much as possible,” the DoE added. The experts said work undertaken during turtle nesting season between May and November should only be carried out with permission from the DoE following consultation to check for turtle nesting activity.
The permission for this project was listed on a brief Cabinet note, and the government has not stated whether conditions will be attached to this approval, but what is clear is that it will put turtles at risk. In May, the DoE rescued a loggerhead turtle that had fallen into and become trapped in a man-made groyne. It was eventually released back into the sea uninjured, but the incident illustrated the danger posed by such man-made structures on nesting beaches.
In this case, the fact that Cabinet granted this licence even though the potential risks and dangers outweighed the minor benefit demonstrates that, contrary to what has been cited repeatedly recently by those wishing to undermine the National Conservation Act, the DoE director does not have the power to stop even such egregious development as this.
The Doe said that if the Cabinet is minded to grant approval, the swim areas to be excavated as part of the works would need to be established, and the proposed groyne location should be revised to prevent an impact on the neighbouring property.
Aside from erosion impacts, the Morritts resort, which is next door to the Wyndham, will be at risk of getting far more sargassum on its beach because the work will simply divert the problem. The DoE pointed out the need to consider the benefit to one landowner against the cost to another.
The Reef Resort beach has been badly eroded in recent years due to the work the resort has continued to do to clean up the sargassum against the advice of the DoE. The resort has been extracting and mixing sand and sargassum and stockpiling it on land adjacent to the resort. It has been using a Bobcat with a normal bucket to remove large amounts of both sand and sargassum from the waterline along the beachfront.
“This is having a significant impact on the beach profile generally due to the loss of sand and the compaction of the beach by heavy equipment,” the DoE said. The department noted that it had communicated these concerns and made recommendations to the property managers of the Wyndham, but they had not put into action another plan or more sustainable method of beach cleaning at the time of the report. The scientists pointed out that it would be difficult and costly to clean and return the amount of sand that has been stockpiled.
However, the Cabinet has now given the resort the green light for more environmental damage to the beach and the marine habitat in the area, even though other options were available to tackle future influxes of sargassum. These included deploying specialist equipment such as a beach rake machine and sieving the sargassum to replace the sand.
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Category: development, Local News, Marine Environment, Science & Nature
The beaches in Brooklyn, NY have groynes and it keeps the sand on the beach. Why are the people who either sold their beaches or live on canals b#$%^!#$ about the environment who don’t live in the area. That idea will create coral and fish hiding places. How can you all not see that?
There are groynes all over the world stop with the B^%# s%$#. The proof will be saving tourism and sea weed not coming onto the beach. Isn’t that good? Years ago people kept saying no docks in front of private homes? Why? its obvious that it had nothing to do with the environment.
We are a tourist island just like all the other areas in the Western Caribbean. Don’t they have docks, ports, canals etc. This is our history since 1937. Embrace it, protect it.
David Miller
Waikiki Beach in Hawaii used to be a swamp (like Cayman), but they fixed it intelligently in 1928, (see the Ala wai canal). This created Waikiki and Waikiki beach. If you look at an overhead picture of the beaches there now you can easily see why the beaches do not erode. If you take an overhead view of the Caymanian education system you can easily see why this will never happen here.
Cabinet approves campaign contributions for themselves?
Illegal Cabinet decisions can be quashed by judicial review proceedings. It has happened with previous illegal Cabinet decisions.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/06/27/grand-court-quashes-cabinet-approval-for-private-dock/
What’s illegal about it? I’ll wait…zzzzz
Decisions that are not based on monetary contributions to politicians rather than environmental considerations tend to be illegal
I fondly remember when Arden McLean led us up along the East End road and we stopped Imparato in his tracks. Isaac , it’s your time now to do something, show us how much you care – or don’t care!
Both of these resorts, presumably with the blessing of DOE and other CIG depts, have been hauling tons of beach sand across the road for many years. As a seaweed removal scheme. Literally mountains of sand have been excavated as part of the seaweed “bycatch”. This goes back long before the sargassum started washing in.
Blessing? No. Read the article. “The Reef Resort beach has been badly eroded in recent years due to the work the resort has continued to do to clean up the sargassum against the advice of the DoE. The resort has been extracting and mixing sand and sargassum and stockpiling it ” – So the two part question is: is this illegal (under what law) and why no enforcement if it is?
Managing sargassum until the next drift comes along! You all might as well try to hold back a hurricane! Remember they may think they are mighty but the Master of the winds and seas will have the last word. It would be much better to use your abundance of cash to research the various ways the grass could be used to benefit the island. Oh I forgot ” they are not interested in sustainability “. sometimes the biggest problem here on this rock is that somehow resources fell into the hands of visionless people. What a pity.
OK, so they have been moving sand. Why is this an issue now – many years after you allege this had started? Please elaborate.
Gee, I’ll slow down: Removing… sand…illegalily… is – – – Illegal!
If protected natural turtle grass can just be approved for rip-out, against protest from the supervising environmental watchdogs, with a wave of Cabinet’s wand, then what about other natural “nuisances” like beach rock, North Sound iron pan that blocks yacht access to hotels, or a protected marine park reef that presents a draft hazard to cruise ships and piers? Where is the line between developer ambition and the King’s conservation mandate which Cayman has agreed? How does the public file an injunction to stop this corruption? Will the King’s appointed representative intervene defend our monarch’s natural state environmental preservation policy?
The funny thing is that I can see this completely backfiring. The Wyndham will slowly lose its beach while the sand will be built up on the Morritt’s side of the groyne.
Also won’t change the fact this is one of the most dangerous swim areas on the island with incredible strong currents.
CNS did all cabinet ministers vote yes for this?
Jay Ebanks is the Minister for Planning so this falls under him. Funny how he runs to Cabinet to get a collective yes when it is rumored that he makes alot of decisions on his own when politically expedient for him.
Madame Auditor General please make a push now to get his portfolio audited and presented for PAC review well in advance of the next general election. It is unacceptable that no financials are available for several years.
Begging King Charles to do something!!!
As I recall there was a successful Judicial Review application in relation to a previous unlawful Cabinet coastal works decision – perhaps that is a useful precedent in this case?
You recall wrong.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2021/06/27/grand-court-quashes-cabinet-approval-for-private-dock/
Quickly!
Should be a slam dunk case for damages by the neighboring resort. Easily quantifiable by loss of beachfront and business.
This is Cayman… Nothing logical is a slam dunk. No compensation will be made, no remediation will be done, no effort to protect… anything will be made. Incompetence as usual.
I’m willing to bet good money these guys will come to government in less than a decade to ask for beach nourishment as somehow, completely out of their control, their beach has disappeared…..
PLEASE vote them out next year! I beg you the voting public make next year the year we finally get it right.
It doesn’t work that way. Voters need to change the Elections Law to stop the rotation of the same rotten apples.
Dear Lord,
Hear our prayer. Please allow the good seeds to rise to the top, that we may be allowed to choose them.
Prayers won’t save you – action might! Stop sitting on the sidelines folding your hands in prayer. DO SOMETHING!!!
to get them “out”you need someone new to come in, but there isn’t anyone
Where groynes need to be built is along the depleted portions of SMB – Laguna del Mar, Marriott, Royal Palms, etc. Groynes will help restore the beach.
Not sure of the real reason for a groyne at Wyndham Reef though?
In actuality, if you remove the one at Treasure Island which started the whole issue in the first place, it would start to recover on its own.
Same old sad sorry misinformation. You really just don’t follow science and logic. Good luck with your fantasies.
Give it a try and prove me wrong then smartass. What do you have to lose?
Erosion is caused by SOLID walls, not piles of rocks with gaps in the structure, and storms. Here’s some solid research other than naive conjecture:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002532272300018X?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=8a43a8b98d42387a
Take them out and let’s see. What is it that you are afraid of?
So your strategy is to drown the ‘Witches’ and if they cannot survive they were guilty. Nice, but continued anti-science solutions like yours is so typical for Cayman, and why it has descended into a sink hole of intellect.
You really, genuinely think that those few small, inconsistent gaps between boulders allows proper flow of sand?
Stop it. Get some help.
Compared to solid walls with rock/concrete… Yes, it does make a big difference which you simply will not acknowledge. I won’t fight ignorance – get educated before you type! This is a decided topic that you and yours will simply not accept. Fine, let’s see what you can accomplish the next 10-15 years. Yes, I am waiting!
Hang on a mo, neither a wall nor a groyne should be there I the first place. Your comparison should be groyne v nothing.
Managing sargassum until the next drift comes along! You all might as well try to hold back a hurricane! Remember they may think they are mighty but the Master of the winds and seas will have the last word. It would be much better to use your abundance of cash to research the various ways the grass could be used to benefit the island. Oh I forgot ” they are not interested in sustainability “. sometimes the biggest problem here on this rock is that somehow resources fell into the hands of visionless people. What a pity.
Can you explain why the TI monstrosity causes beach erosion? Other “experts’ state that dredging the harbour many years ago was the cause.
Sure, it directs the what would otherwise be free flowing sand off the drop-off. Would you like to see the videos which prove it?
I predict any video you can offer will show the result of storm damage, and many years of SOLID walls. And none of them would be able to implicate the TI rocks which are porous. And to suggest the rocks direct sand to the drop-off is simply laughable. But sure, back up your claim with the nasty incriminating videos.
You predict wrong Nostradumbass.
And the video… Yea, nothing offered to support your argument – as expected. Your side = let’s push a bunch os false sh.t and see what sticks. Still waiting for actual facts.
Save your breath – can’t fix stupid. The evidence against the TI situation completely ignores storms, weather direction, and beach erosion studies. The keyboard complainers don’t want to understand that many variables are in play, and that pile of rocks is the least concern. Note the above comment that someone suggested that Wyndham will lose it’s beach… golly gee, that would be the opposite of what TI has seen. And why do they think that Morritts will get a sand buildup? Maybe it will happen North of Wyndam. Or maybe it will play out completely differently. Some folks get stupid ideas and can’t see the reality of their arguments. Don’t fight ignorance – it’s a waste of your time.
Thank you Madam Premier and the wonderful CPA, you know we need this for our progress and will never be swayed by all these cry babies. Hail to progress and best you stay in power forever.
Can’t fix stupid
These “generational Caymanians” have become more of a threat to these islands than any Expat! This family is part of the Dan Scott crew, remember that when you are voting!
I am sure Kathy objected tot his and was outnumbered in Cabinet, she should resign along with Andre and force early elections! This UPM bunch need to go
You need one more in addition to them for the numbers to work.
Sadly none of the other members of Cabinet have the fortitude! or principles to make such a move!!
How soon can we get this bunch of corrupt imbeciles out of office? Destroying what nature gave us for the almighty dollar!
And the problem is that such damage is irreversible!
petition the uk for direct rule…
you are delusional if you think the next crop of local fools is any better. remember pact/upm were meant to be the peoples choice for sustainability….!!!!!………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
You’re delusional if you think UK parliamentarians are any better. The Uk has is own problems, let’s hope the newly elected Labour Government and address them.
Never as they are in for life as well as the CPA chairman.
They really are just whores for development.
Sadly it appears government in the pockets of developers, and not even the whales. Caymanians selling their legacy. Think about future generations.
Not Caymanians selling their legacy. A small group of Caymanian politicians selling YOUR legacy. With zero consequences for them or the developer.
Anything for the almighty dollar. No one is in charge and no matter who you vote in – they always bow to the $$$ or their backdoor bredrens.
Just Caymanians allowing the destruction of their natural resources. Nothing new to see here, been happening for years unchecked and approved by planning, which are appointed by elected government.
Developers cannot do what they are not allowed to do by Caymanians, remember that.
LTD da unboozler
Time will show the dumbness of this decision. Just like those made for SMB in the 70’s and 80’s.
Native born Caymanians destroying Cayman for personal gains and greed.
Jesus
yes my child?
Where?
Si?
for the idiot caymanians who blame expats and developers….always remember it is your elected officials who rubber stamp everything.
Half of the idiot caymanians aren’t from here.
so where are the other half from???
all caymanians came from somewhere else…
It’s the same with any country, British, Americans and whoever else are just as original as Caymanians.
any comment mrs governor?
Hydrofoiling is fun.
Why should she bother with a comment? We Caymanians think we are such hot shit we did away with most of the Governor’s powers because it was colonialism and we wanted to do things ourselves. No one else to blame but US!
@5:06, that’s the God’s truth but we always looking for someone else to blame, today its the English, tomorrow its Jamaicans.
Exactly. The last time the governor really flexed his power was the same sex marriage thing and a bunch of people still being asshats about that.
It’s not her job to step in every time our local government does something stupid…if she did it would break the pedometer.
But it is her job to step in where there are issues of good governance to address; and not sure about you or the Governor, but I can smell the money wafting through the air, all the way from Town Hall Crescent.
just mind boggling stupidity