Breakers dock depends on chosen EWA route
(CNS): While the claim by Planning Minister Jay Ebanks that the choice of option B3 for the East-West Arterial Road extension was because it balanced development and environmental responsibility is dubious, the claim that it “aligns with our strategic goals” seams to be more on point, as the UPM appears determined to build a new cargo dock and the most likely location is Breakers, a plan that relies on the existence of the new road.
At the recent public meetings about the options for the dock, the consultants hired to compile the outline business case for this very costly capital project explained how the various locations were being scored. Four were shortlisted: West Bay (Option 3), Bodden Bay (Option 8), Breakers Quarries (Option 9), and Frank Sound (Option 10).
While the West Bay location is on the shortlist, when assessed for its environmental impact (see here) it has a high negative score as it would require significant dredging in North Sound. Options 8 and 10 would both be very expensive because they would require a breakwater to be built offshore to protect the dock when the seas are rough.
The consultants did not provide any idea of the cost range for a new dock but they did claim that developing it using the existing quarries at Breakers was the least expensive. West Bay would be 18% higher than the lowest cost option, Frank Sound 34% higher and Bodden Bay 52% higher, the consultants estimated. (See here)
The presentation at the public meetings did not provide a detailed explanation of how environmental impacts or costs were assessed but the scores at this stage found that, other than not doing anything or expanding the existing dock in the George Town Harbour, the Breakers option would have the least impact and be the least expensive.
However, the scores, if accurate, do not take into account the environmental fallout from building the dock, especially when coupled with the EWA extension, which, in addition to the impact of the road itself, would trigger development in pristine wetland habitat that is currently inaccessible.
Once the outline business case has been completed, it will be presented to Cabinet for the final decision, though it seems clear that the direction of the work on the OBC so far is pointing to Breakers. But the consultants appear to have assumed that the EWA will be built, and the only option for its route if the dock is located there is B3.
The main presenter, Harold Westerman from Stantec, also noted that the construction of cargo docks tends to attract businesses that want to locate nearby, which would mean more development.
In its submissions for the OBC, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands said, “The impacts of induced development around a new port would be highly impactful on the natural terrestrial environment of the area. Other than the quarries, this area has no industrial development. Industries will grow around a port and spread severe impacts towards the Central Mangrove Wetlands, Meagre Bay Pond, and the rare dry forest.”
See the concept layouts for each location option for the cargo port in the OBC presentation, which can be found in the CNS Library.
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Category: development, Local News, Politics
We can afford a dock but can’t afford to sort out our own waste?
We love wallowing in our own shit
How is this government still has the capacity to make national decisions without input from the voters?
I don’t understand. How do you build and use a cargo dock at Breakers? Have you not seen the waves rolling in? The clue is in the name. Sounds like madness to me..
Vested interests are a solid bulwark against common sense.
The intention is to cut a channel into the existing quarries that are inland. No waves you see.
The channel will be a great place for surfing.
Ah ok, I see. And how do the boats arrive at this channel? Through the waves? Or through North Sound?
Time to wake up, Cayman. The OBC is tainted from the get-go as Kenny has already betrayed the Cabinet’s position that they are intent on saying yes to approve building and dredging regardless of necessity case or enviro cautions. Baird has already reported the current port is running at under 80% capacity, with a population outlook considerably less rosy once Finance moves on. There is no business case, or money. Rolling live Balance Sheet omissions in the billions and years of failing OAG opinions, means the UK could pull Cayman’s credit backstop, and trigger loan calls tomorrow. Actuarial risk is another party killer waiting to hit, for which there is no plan B. Those that plan to stick around to fund the upcoming decades of policy misfires, deserve responsible and accountable leadership at the helm, and that doesn’t happen without Election Law changes, and functioning agencies with checks on power. Voters need to lead this and demonstrate they are wrestling necessary control mechanisms back into place, to avoid the FCO appointed special prosecutor team, very much overdue.
“Those that plan to stick around”
You can take a plane now and leave Caymanians to their own destiny, and take your ‘pillage and plunder then leave’ attitude with you.
“When Finance moves on”
And when will that be? Government surpluses are higher than expected every year. The source of that extra revenue is higher than expected financial services activity.
Whether you like it or not, this IS the best Overseas Territory the UK has. That’s why King (then Prince) Charles, the UK Speaker of the Commons, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, our top appeal court which has only sat outside the UK a handful of times in its almost 200 year history, have all been here in the last five years. The UK is very comfortable with long-tail expensive, hush-hush enormous obligations, like the 182 years it took them to finish paying back the money they borrowed to pay slave owners. You won’t find them doing anything to upset the apple cart here. Cayman works, fundamentally, that’s why you’re here and I’m sure making an extravagant income.
FCO appointed special prosecutor team? You want to bring the bobbies down to rough up the natives eh? You know how that ended last time? Scandal upon scandal upon scandal, millions embezzled by the UK investigators, everything they were doing collapsed and led to a decade of litigation and recrimination, if not more.
Go back to the UK, or wherever else you hail from, and stay there.
None of Kenny Mac Saunders and Seymour voters understand all that stuff.
They’re UDP “what’s in this for me” people who need their representative to keep them ignorant and on the NAU gravy train.
Think before you vote Cayman..
TBH, this government has been so discumbobulated that I’m more than a little impressed they put two and two together here and came up with a comprehensive plan. I can quibble with it, and certainly hate to see environmental destruction. But they put a plan together and linked it to another plan! Good for them.
It’s a hustle rather than a plan, predicated on a linear population assumption lie, and massive infrastructure spend the backers know we can’t afford. They want Cayman over a barrel, and this Cabinet wants to give it to them without pausing to apply basic sense.
Thanks for making this so obvious CNS! It is abundantly clear that this is a large plan for corruption in this country and we can hold the relevant Ministers accountable for being engaged in it with the special interests. Lets keep the big picture in mind and see which politicians in Government have been central the the various actions that have occurred. I have a feeling there will be more disclosures that brings a bigger focus on this.
So far CIG has made a decision on the E/W arterial route, without releasing the studies they claim to have based their decision on. Now we wait breathlessly for the release of the results of the Port public consultation upon which they have decided to build the inland port in Breakers already.
How are all these decisions being made without public input? Why weren’t they part of the Development Plan?
Question 1: “How are all these decisions being made without public input?”
Answer 1: Personal profit calculations.
Question 2: Why weren’t they part of the Development Plan?
Answer 2: See Answer 1
Keep that sh*t in town/west bay and fix what you have. This is just a mechanism to force the cruise pier on us. Who can’t see that don’t want to see it. Besides, the eastern districts are already over burdened with heavy equipment speeding recklessly by our homes literally all day and night, every single day of the week.
There are a half dozen massive developer dredging campaigns itching for an enviro-defying Cabinet approved precedent. Heather Bodden may have already given it to dredge a “protected” marine park. That will open the flood gates for everything else, pardon the pun.
Dart bought up all the Breakers quarry lands. Now it all makes sense.
Sounds like a fine example of good business acumen to me.
You mean the empty quarries already exploited below MSL? DART should be ordered to fill them in. Sometimes property ownership comes with preexisting liability and consequences. A property lesson they haven’t needed to learn in the Cayman Islands.
Vulturism more like.
“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”
Fulton J. Sheen
“Disdain is the tribute the vast majority of people pay to trust fund kiddies turned vulture capitalists.”
-Rea L. Ity
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”
Robert Nesta Marley
Then it will become a cruise terminal with Dart shops + busses going to Camana bay, bye bye George Town.
Good! Then we can make George Town a proper capital without all the tourist clap.