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Public meeting on Pellew Island set for Thursday
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The meeting will be held at the Port Antonio High School beginning at 6:00 pm and members of the public are invited to participate in the presentation by way of asking questions relating to the controversial project.
The Pellew Island development, according to the EIA report prepared by Caribbean Ecosystems, is to see the construction of two villas -one with seven bedrooms and the other four bedrooms.
"The design concept envisages an old Jamaica/Balinese-style of architecture with clinker board exteriors, thatched covered copper alloy roofs, high ceilings, wrap-around verandas, demerara windows and poured coloured concrete and wooden floors, in the appropriate areas," the EIA report said.
The two villas, the report added, will be on the north-east and north-west of the island. Both will be entered from a central common area, with circulation paths radiating from this area, wrapping around the villas to the shoreline of the island. All the existing trees will be retained in the proposed landscaping design.
"The island will be accessed by boat, an electric-powered glass-bottom boat or bamboo raft, from the reception area located directly south of the island on land alongside the main road at 43 San San main road west, of the Blue Lagoon Villas," the EIA said. "A jetty and a small four-vehicle parking lot will be constructed at the reception area. Each villa will have its own pier for individual access to each villa."
Beverley Barakat-Haddad owns the land on which the development is to be sited, and construction work is to be done by Millingen Architects.
However, the island's environmental lobbyists have come out strongly against the proposed development, arguing that the site is one that should be allowed to remain untouched. Not only do they contend that the island is an iconic national landmark and a symbol of nature, organisations such as the Jamaica Environment Trust, reasons that the development calls for the removal of vegetation, including sea grass beds, and is likely to have significant environmental impacts during both the construction and operation phase on the coral reef.
The EIA report also notes that the development will potentially negatively affect the area in different ways, such as long-term impacts on the water quality in the marine environment, especially from the operation of sewage treatment plants, solid waste generated from the facility and run-off. In addition, there are possible solid waste impacts that will have to be dealt with, even as landscape and aesthetics may also be affected.
"Pellew Island in its current underdeveloped state offers attractive scenery for viewers from all vantage points. The removal of vegetation from the island that is involved in these phases of the development may negatively alter the aesthetics in the area if not done with sensitivity," the report said. "Construction camps and storage sites which will be located on the mainland may also have a major short-term impact in the area that has been described as one of the most scenic coastlines on the island."
The EIA has, however, proposed a host of measures that may lessen the potential negative impacts, even as it has said that the effects on climate, air quality, soil and geology are expected to be limited.
The National Environment and Planning Agency is yet to take a decision on the development.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magaz...HURSDAY__1.jpg
The meeting will be held at the Port Antonio High School beginning at 6:00 pm and members of the public are invited to participate in the presentation by way of asking questions relating to the controversial project.
The Pellew Island development, according to the EIA report prepared by Caribbean Ecosystems, is to see the construction of two villas -one with seven bedrooms and the other four bedrooms.
"The design concept envisages an old Jamaica/Balinese-style of architecture with clinker board exteriors, thatched covered copper alloy roofs, high ceilings, wrap-around verandas, demerara windows and poured coloured concrete and wooden floors, in the appropriate areas," the EIA report said.
The two villas, the report added, will be on the north-east and north-west of the island. Both will be entered from a central common area, with circulation paths radiating from this area, wrapping around the villas to the shoreline of the island. All the existing trees will be retained in the proposed landscaping design.
"The island will be accessed by boat, an electric-powered glass-bottom boat or bamboo raft, from the reception area located directly south of the island on land alongside the main road at 43 San San main road west, of the Blue Lagoon Villas," the EIA said. "A jetty and a small four-vehicle parking lot will be constructed at the reception area. Each villa will have its own pier for individual access to each villa."
Beverley Barakat-Haddad owns the land on which the development is to be sited, and construction work is to be done by Millingen Architects.
However, the island's environmental lobbyists have come out strongly against the proposed development, arguing that the site is one that should be allowed to remain untouched. Not only do they contend that the island is an iconic national landmark and a symbol of nature, organisations such as the Jamaica Environment Trust, reasons that the development calls for the removal of vegetation, including sea grass beds, and is likely to have significant environmental impacts during both the construction and operation phase on the coral reef.
The EIA report also notes that the development will potentially negatively affect the area in different ways, such as long-term impacts on the water quality in the marine environment, especially from the operation of sewage treatment plants, solid waste generated from the facility and run-off. In addition, there are possible solid waste impacts that will have to be dealt with, even as landscape and aesthetics may also be affected.
"Pellew Island in its current underdeveloped state offers attractive scenery for viewers from all vantage points. The removal of vegetation from the island that is involved in these phases of the development may negatively alter the aesthetics in the area if not done with sensitivity," the report said. "Construction camps and storage sites which will be located on the mainland may also have a major short-term impact in the area that has been described as one of the most scenic coastlines on the island."
The EIA has, however, proposed a host of measures that may lessen the potential negative impacts, even as it has said that the effects on climate, air quality, soil and geology are expected to be limited.
The National Environment and Planning Agency is yet to take a decision on the development.
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