Last month it was announced that the Environment Department had opened a water-pollution investigation after material from the area on the Waterfront allegedly seeped through the ground into the sea.
During this week’s States sitting, Senator Sarah Ferguson asked what steps were being taken to prevent the issue from reoccurring.
Assistant Treasury Minister Lyndsay Ash, speaking on behalf of the States as the sole shareholder in JDC, said: ‘Obviously any possible pollution of our coastline has to be taken extremely seriously and I have met JDC to discuss this.
‘There is an ongoing investigation at the Environment Department as to what occurred at the Horizon Development and whether, and to what extent, contaminants were released from the site.
‘The construction is being carried out by Groupe Legendre, who are the main contractor.’
He added: ‘They have initiated the following steps – they have installed a geo-textile membrane on the area where the deep excavations are taking place in order to act as a filter which will prevent silt from exiting the site on the fall of large tides.
‘They have increased the frequency of the water-testing in the Elizabeth Marina from once a month to once a week during this period of works.
‘And they have committed not to carry out works in the area concerned during high tides so as not to further disturb the soil.’
During a follow-up question, Senator Ferguson asked Deputy Ash whether the States, as a shareholder of the JDC, would be liable for any bill if marina tests proved positive for contamination.
In response, Deputy Ash said that if any bill did arise, it would be settled through negotiation between the States and Groupe Legendre.
He also confirmed that the government was still awaiting the results of tests.
