Debate No. 1 of 31.03.09

COASTAL EROSION – REPORT – BAIRD AND ASSOCIATES REPORT

 (No. B/36) Mr M. Dowarkasing (Third Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, in regard to coastal erosion, he will state if he has taken cognizance of a report thereon submitted by the Baird and Associates in 2003 and, if so, indicate the measures taken as at to date. 

Mr Bundhoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Baird and Associates Report submitted on ‘Study on Coastal Erosion in Mauritius’ recommends, among others –

(b)   implementation of a beach/lagoon/reef restoration plan;

(b) monitoring of the coastal systems;

I need to regulate the opening and closure of passes;

(d) address over-fishing and destructive fishing practices;

(e) establish more marine protected areas, and

(f) implement policy on setback for construction of hard structures.

My Ministry chairs an Implementation Committee with inter-sectoral stakeholders to follow up on these recommendations. So far, the following has been implemented –

(b)   restoration at Petit Sable and Bambous Virieux by the placement of a sloping permeable rock revetment over some one km;

(b) restoration at Rivière des Galets comprising renewal of gabions and the construction of an inland wall over some 450 mts have been completed in the year 2008;

I restoration of the Flic-en-Flac beach through restriction of vehicular access and reprofiling of the beach with and monitoring;

(d) restoration at Belle Mare public beach through the reprofiling of the beach slope and continuous monitoring, and

(e) the gradual removal of hard structures within the dynamic beach zone including groins and concrete jetties and walls at Pointe d’Esny.

 Furthermore, with the collaboration of the Beach Authority, the following have been implemented –

(a) restoration at Pointe  aux Sables, and

(b) restoration at Trou aux Biches.

Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry conducts continuous monitoring and assessment of the status of coastal erosion around Mauritius. On the basis of the findings, coastal protection works are devised and implemented in consultation with relevant stakeholders. I also wish to inform the House that specific provisions have been made in my Ministry’s budget for 2008-2009 for the preservation and rehabilitation of beaches. Work will continue to be carried out in line of the Baird and Associates Report as well as on the basis of new observations.

 Mr Dowarkasing: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know from the hon. Minister that among one of the recommendations of that report is the creation of a sand bank and even places like sudan bank in the north of the island was proposed for the sucking of sand to create a sand bank so that we can replenish those beaches affected by erosion.

(Interruptions)

Mr Speaker: Order! Order now!

Mr Bundhoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, unfortunately, there is no blood donation at the moment.  With regard to the sand bank, on an ad hoc basis, for example, at the Caroline Hotel, we did use sand available near Caroline Hotel to replenish part of the beach next to Caroline Hotel. As and when required, we do build up a bank to replenish where it is required and, in particular, the Grand Bay one which I thought the hon. Member mentioned. These projects are, at the moment, ongoing in order to – if I can use the word – refurbish the part with regard to Grand Bay with the collaboration of the SPDC.

 Mr Dowarkasing: Mr Speaker, Sir, my second question relates to the other recommendations of that report which is the installation of breakwaters. May I know whether the Ministry is going ahead with this project, if not, may we know the reasons why?

Mr Bundhoo: From the report that I have, Mr Speaker, Sir, some have been done, but they are not giving the required results and we are reviewing them.

Mr Varma: Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Minister has spoken about works which have been undertaken following coastal erosion. Could the hon. Minister inform the House what are the preventive measures that are being undertaken to prevent coastal erosion?

Mr Bundhoo: This is exactly what had been done over the last five years to prevent it.

Mr Gunness: Mr Speaker, Sir, I heard the hon. Minister saying that one of the  recommendations of the report is to remove concrete buildings on the beaches. Can I know from the hon. Minister how he reconciles the fact that, last year, on the public beach of Trou d’Eau Douce, tuck shops have been constructed in concrete, and how does he reconcile this with the statement that he made?

Mr Bundhoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I assure the hon. Member, that among the recommendations I read, no mention was made about the removing of concrete building, but nonetheless, whenever there is any concrete building which has been erected on a public beach, it has to be dealt with by the Beach Authority.

Mr Dowarkasing: The other concern of the report was also the state of our coral reefs which are about 80% in the red zone. Can we know from the hon. Minister what are the concrete measures that have been taken up by his Ministry in relation to this problem?

Mr Bundhoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have to thank the hon. Member for drawing the attention of the House and the population at large also. What is happening to our coral reef is due to over-fishing activities, to men’s activities and also to the change in climate with regard to the sea temperature.

 But quite unfortunately other than ensitizing the population and reversing all the activities that are affecting the coral reef, there is nothing much we can do. But, nonetheless, we have already ensitizi a ensitizing campaign with regard to all stakeholders in order to prevent any further degradations of our coral reef and, at the same time, implementing measures trying to revert it.

Mr Varma: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the hon. Minister inform the House whether the recommendations of the Baird Report have been transmitted to local authorities so that these are taken into consideration when development permits are being granted?

Mr Bundhoo: I have to assure the hon. Member that, yes, this is the case and that particularly all hotels which are now going to be provided with an EIA are requested by law to have a setback from the high water marks of at least 30 metres from the high water marks.

Keywords: coastal erosion

Debate No. 27 of 10.11.09

BEACH EROSION, LAGOONS & CORAL REEFS - PROTECTION WORKS

(No. B/1149) Mr M. Dowarkasing (Third Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, in regard to the protection of the environment, he will state the measures his Ministry has taken to combat beach erosion, protect our lagoons and coral reefs and to re-forest the depleted regions, since his assumption of office.

Reply:  My Ministry has undertaken coastal protection works over a total stretch of 1.4 km as follows  -

·      450 m at Rivière des Galets;

·      725 m at Flic en Flac;

·      100m at Bain des Dames, and

·      125m at Trou aux Biches

Beach reprofiling works have been carried out over 1 km at Belle Mare and 400m at Le  Morne.

Furthermore, coastal erosion abatement works are being planned as follows -

·        300m at Grand Baie

·        500m at Mon Choisy

·        200m at Bras D’Eau.

My Ministry also conducts regular monitoring and assessment on the status of coastal erosion around Mauritius. Some 12 sites over a total stretch of about 3 km of the shoreline showing signs of erosion due to natural factors such as cyclones and sea surges have been identified for rehabilitation in the near future.

Although the protection of the lagoon and coral reefs and the re-forestation of depleted regions do not fall within the purview my Ministry, we are undertaking the following works in collaboration with other relevant authorities -

                             I.            Lagoonal water quality monitoring.

                             II.            Measures to protect and prevent the pollution of the coastal and marine environment from land based sources and activities under the Nairobi Convention.

                           III.            Placement of grids in 4 streams in the Port Louis area and  solid waste management in the ports area.

                          IV.            Control of soil erosion in Black River Gorges National Park.

                           V.            Sensitisation and capacity development of stakeholders on coastal zone management issues under the IOC/EU Regional Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zones of the Indian Ocean Countries (ReCoMaP).

                          VI.            Measures to prevent pollution from ships and capacity building for the prevention of coastal and marine contamination under the World Bank/GEF Western Indian Ocean Maritime Highway Development and Coastal and Marine Contamination Prevention project.

                      VII.            Tree planting campaigns, and

                     VIII.            Industrial Pollution control and abatement measures to prevent contamination of the lagoon.

Keywords: beach erosion, coastal protection works

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