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A time for visionary ideas
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Albert might have been exaggerating just a little, but it is certainly true that the combination of our extreme tidal range and the geography of the south coast have not made matters easy for marine engineers.
However, whereas the town harbour of Victorian times was the area inside the fine granite arms of the Victoria and Albert piers, this vital part of the Island’s infrastructure has grown tremendously. It now consists not only of the innermost areas, including the ancient English and French harbours, but of the Elizabeth Terminal and its associated ferry berths, three marinas, large areas of reclaimed land and the tanker berth at La Collette.
Now, if proposals that will emerge in the new version of the Island Plan are ratified, there will be a new phase of dramatic change. Up to 800 units of housing will displace the Elizabeth Terminal and many commercial port activities, passenger and freight, will be transferred to La Collette.
Even more dramatically, the fuel farm, which currently occupies a potentially hazardous site, could be shifted to an artificial island created a short distance offshore.
These plans, which will be presented for public consultation before being put before the States either in their present form or with modifications, are certainly radical. In addition, transforming plans into reality would clearly be a hugely costly business.
Nevertheless, after the piecemeal and frankly chaotic development that has characterised so much of the Waterfront project, ideas which might be described as visionary represent a much-needed change – though simply swapping the main port from one side of the reclamation to the other will not in itself be enough to correct the mistakes of the past.
What is needed is boldness on all fronts, so that the reorganisation of the port and the rezoning of the Elizabeth Harbour is complemented by other moves to make the most of every part of the area, including the fine old structures of Commercial Buildings and the mud-filled drying basin that they overlook.
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