Revised Planning Decision For South Basin Area
[Updated] Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy has issued a revised planning decision for the development of the South Basin in Dockyard, with the Minister refusing permission for the proposed marina — which would have been built after 35th America’s Cup –saying that “additional environmental studies and public consultation is required before any final permissions can be considered.”
A statement from the Ministry said, “The developer, South Basin Development Ltd, had previously applied for various planning permissions for the South Basin necessary for the America’s Cup [AC35]. The developer had asked for permission to reclaim land in the South Basin and to use that land for the AC35 village.
Rendering of the proposed AC35 area in Dockyard, courtesy of the America’s Cup:
“It had also asked for permission to build, once AC35 had ended, a commercial boatyard and a Marine and Ports depot and yard on the reclaimed land. In addition, the developer asked for permission to build, next to the reclaimed land, a large marina aimed at attracting luxury yachts.
“All these permissions were originally approved with conditions to protect the environment. The Minister today revised those permissions.
“South Basin Development Ltd still has permission to reclaim land in the South Basin and to use that land for the AC35 village. In other words, the revised permissions do not impact AC35 or the AC35 timetable.
“In respect of the proposed end uses for the land once AC35 has ended, the Minister has decided that the proposed commercial boatyard and the proposed Marine and Ports depot and yard require additional scrutiny and environmental studies.
“Minister Fahy has given limited planning permission, or ‘permission in principle’, for the proposed end uses but concluded that “additional environmental studies and public consultation is required before any final permissions can be considered.”
“In respect of the proposed marina, which would only have been built after AC35, the Minister has refused planning permission. The application for the marina needs additional studies and will need to be resubmitted to planning.”
Minister Fahy said, “I would like to take the opportunity of thanking all stakeholders involved in the planning process.”
Update 6.10pm: In reacting to this decision, Stuart Hayward of BEST — which had raised objections to some aspects of the South Basin plans — told Bernews, “This is all rather sudden. We are guardedly optimistic but are unable to respond further until we have analysed and understood the details of the Minister’s revisions.”
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Good move.
Now we have MARINAGATE. Bunch of foxing Hamsters scared to make decisions and all the islands are steaming ahead with more tourist. Why is every government since the days of the UBP run like a crossword puzzle? Always afraid to hurt some groups feelings over votes. You think the fish will have a BIU strike? You best worry about the fish on land then the ones in the sea.
How about concern with the best interests of Bermuda, which includes the environment as well as tourism and development opportunities. Taking a more cautious, considered approach makes sense.
Get a sustainability report quickly. If the damage is already done with the landfill why waste the area after. It needs to be put to proper use otherwise Bermuda will have yet another abandoned dockyard.
Politics as usual.
Everyone wants to get on board.
There is very little if one coral growth there.
Shut up Put up and make a few bucks to keep this sinking ship afloat for another fiscal years.
I give up.
You should give up Terry cause your talking out of your a** again! The area adjacent to the proposed site and which could be seriously affected by the end use development of this site, is a breeding ground for juvenile marine life – proven to be so by Government’s own studies! Hence the objection by BEST and others. Learn something today?
Again. I disagree with you.
Those cruise ships and their bow thrusters and stern drives cause more damage than all the construction and pilling et al.
BEST?
You jest. Just another mouthpiece for Stuart etal to gain notoriety.
Garbage.
Ignorance is no defense Terry! Read the original planning application and BEST’s objection to it – it has everything to do with the potential detrimental effects the end uses could have on the adjacent western marine area to the proposed development site. If still in any doubt you can then read the Department of Conservation’s report stating the same. If the Government and developer (south Basin Development Ltd = WEDCO) were so certain of their position/that they were in the right why did they concede at the 11th hour of the court case and the Minister issue a revised planning decision………….I’ll spell it out for you because they knew they were in the wrong and could possibly lose the case and be forced to restart the whole planning application process all over again – potentially affecting the deadline for the completion of the America’s Cup Village. Instead of trying to bulldoze the whole process down the throats of the community and on the back of the America’s Cup (which the end uses portion of the application had nothing to do with) the Department of Planning, DAB and the Minister should have refused the application as submitted by WEDCO and suggested that the correct steps be taken to perform a proper EIA etc. etc. etc.
Not ignorant at all.
So??? Once again the OBA has folded??? This time to the tree hungers!! Hopefully Stuart Hayward and his ” best ” team are happy that the boat yard that has existed in Dockyard for at least the last 30 yrs will continue to power wash bottoms of boats and let it wash straight into the basin that already exists, let’s not also forget the fact that oil, fuel and other contaminants also find their way into the water of dockyard from the very same business and our government marine and ports ALSO!!!! As far as I was made to understand, this new marina facility had ALL enveriomental concerns addressed with such pesky little things as catch basins that would isolate and treat these contaniments before they were released!!! When will the OBA grow a pair and tell all those that have agendas to stop and go away???
What BEST and others are trying to prevent is the very thing you have pointed out kangoocar – the further destruction of more healthy marine environment in Dockyard – this time to the immediate west of the proposed site. Unlike the marina and boat yards that exist there now, planning of any new industrial area should include an extensive development and environmental impact assessment. This was not done and admittedly so by the developers, the ACBDA and now the Government themselves. Faced with the chance that they could potentially lose the court case that BEST commenced against them – the Government (& WEDCO) have conceded and in essence agreed to what BEST were asking for in the first place – a proper EIA and review/reassessment of the End Use portion of this planning application.
YOU put the OBA there… don’t ask us, ask them!!
Unlike the plp sheeple, I when any political party does something stupid, will challenge and blast them for it, just as I did!!! unlike the plp sheeple who had no problem watching their beloved party pillage them financially??? I will not say nothing when stupid things are being done!!!!
Well I waiting to see how long it would take you to bring the PLP into this,, smdh..
You will challenge?
Lier.
Know of knowone on the voting list nor in the Telephone directory as “Kangoocar.”
Challenge my a**.
Another scared cat hiding behind a pen name.
They also go by Westpalm and goodness knows what other names. The only challenging they do is with their fingers on a keyboard.
Have u guys seen how docks and piers are being built now they basically put big steel pipes down into the ground and put big slabs of concrete on top other than filing in the inside on the outside they are technically making artificial reefs with the same protection as say a mangrove but on a larger scale an example of what I am talking about is the royal Bermuda yacht club go check out how its built
RBYC probably isn’t the best example, as the work being done there is to put right the bad work that was done there the first time. Makes you wonder when the original dockyard extension will start falling down. Go take a look at it if you don’t believe – done by the same builder too.
I just don’t see how asking for more studies will change the end result – the land will already have been filled in. Not as if it’s going to be taken out again. Notwithstanding that the location is just stupid for M&P offices given it’s exposed location, surely a piled deck would have been the way to go? Just whip it out after the Americas Cup carnival has moved on. Heck, it’s not even as if there is much happening there right now anyway!
That is an interesting about turn for the government.
If we consider that BEST was not forewarned, we are left to wonder about what happened behind the scenes!
Some will complain but ‘chalk one up for the environment’.
When the Americas Cups over then what they are making to many plans but not thinking for the future
They actually have quite a bit planned for after. that would be a great place for a power boat race venue might even get some xcats down here
look …get it together and move forward….what now?…i don’t understand this!
What BEST and others are trying to prevent is the very thing you have pointed out kangoocar – the further destruction of more healthy marine environment in Dockyard – this time to the immediate west of the proposed site. Unlike the marina and boat yards that exist there now, planning of any new industrial area should include an extensive development and environmental impact assessment. This was not done and admittedly so by the developers, the ACBDA and now the Government themselves. Faced with the chance that they could potentially lose the court case that BEST commenced against them – the Government (& WEDCO) have conceded and in essence agreed to what BEST were asking for in the first place – a proper EIA and review/reassessment of the End Use portion of this planning application.
And your a mouth piece for whom Frank.
Excellent news!! To give planning approval “in principle” for anything after the AC35 with anything to back it up was holding Bermuda hostage. Another good win win decision by Fahy. He’s one of the best Ministers this islands ever had as far as I”m concerned. Time to do the same thing for the Botanical Gardens project.
4 year Politicians should stick with what they think they know.
It can all go in the South basin, just do it right. Have a pit for bottom paint pressure washing. Wet sand blast not dry. Tent spray painting. It’s done all up the East coast. Lots of regulations. Live in harmony with nature, we don’t need to pollute.
TAKE OVER BOAZ ISLAND SLIP AND HANGER.
No self respecting developer would agree to build it just for the AC. It would need to be sustainable and development rights would need to follow. One must assume that they have been well advised and can pull out. Unless of course the government has guaranteed their investment then it doesn’t matter. They go into liquidation and we hand over the guaranty!
How is it ok to allow the development and alleged environmental damage, but not allow it’s further use. (other than as another white elephant or abandoned dockyard? Maybe it’s not about BEST but cronyism?
……………because the 3rd stage of the proposal (which BEST were objecting to) was for end uses and the affects these would have on the surrounding marine environment – not the basin itself. WEDCO did not prove adequately enough through a creditable EIA that they had considered thoroughly the environmental impact that the proposed end uses (marina and industrial boat yard) had on the surrounding environment i.e. the areas to the west of the development site which are documented juvenile fish feeding grounds! In essence they tried to rail road through the whole proposal using the Americas Cup as a lever to do so!
Good decision by the Minister to get out in front of a very public court loss – last minute political brinkmanship. This has been a tough story to follow and it appears BEST was on top of this from the start. Their efforts to shift WEDCo through face to face meetings were ignored and I heard the chair of WEDCo publicly berated Stuart and BEST recently.It will be interesting to hear their reaction on today’s decision. I am left with a few questions – Why is Morgan’s Point not an option? How much would it cost to rent Morgan’s Point compared to the expense of filling in the South Basin and all the expenses this entails. Who are the principles behind South Basin Development Ltd and how will they benefit financially from these developments?
Follow the money. ..
I applaud minister Fahy for Recognising WEDCo’s amateur approach to push through ridiculous plans on the coat tails of the Americas Cup. How many more personal agendas and how much more proven incompetence will we see delaying the job at hand and increasing costs to Bermudian tax payers?
What is right with Darrel’s Island for an AC venue
I would guess that the decision to halt the end use development has nothing to do with the environmental impact but rather the financial impact being in the wrong place. …
Follow the money…
AC VENUE.
“Hospitality has no limits.”
“Bring out your best china.”
“Bring out your best for the rest……………………….”
“When you invite a guest to dinner let them eat the table cloth if they want to.”
“The whole world is watching all of us.”
How many time do I have to tell you…
Create Bermuda as an …
*****INTERNATIONAL 5 ***** SPORTS SPORTS CONVENTION CENTER.*****
We already have cricket; sailing; marathons. Mr. Hoyle will tell you the rest.
The visitors will come to watch…….. Mr Hanbery.
We are never going to get out of debt at the rate we are going
” It takes a village”
SMILE…
The H. M. Dockyard is a monument to survival WW1 & WW11
You are filing in the wrong side of the south basin !
Why are you Farmers filling in a protected body of water. ?
We have tidal flow twice a day !
Be quiet NOT BEST and go back to bed. you just trying to make a name for your selves.
Get a face mask a go to China or India.
W.W. 11 did all the damage with all the sunken ships out there.
This is all about feeding our families and children.
What???