HAVRE des Pas, St Aubin’s Harbour and West Park are high priorities for investment to counter rising sea levels, according to the Infrastructure Minister.
Deputy Tom Binet said that community engagement on coastal management strategies would begin in mid-2023, and include focus groups and surveys.
A recent report from the Fiscal Policy Panel, an independent group of economists who advise the government, highlighted a lack of funding for coastal management in the proposed Government Plan, which is due to be debated next week, despite the previous administration committing to considering potential schemes this year as part of an Islandwide strategy.
Deputy Binet said: ‘Ongoing maintenance programmes and developments of the coastal defence network ensure that known “weak points” are managed for the present day.
‘The [Shoreline Management] plan identifies the high-priority areas for investment to improve resilience and maintain standards of protection to counter sea-level rises as it happens. In the short to medium term, this will be to address the high-priority areas of Havre des Pas, West Park and St Aubin’s Harbour, at the same time as ongoing sea defence maintenance.’
The Shoreline Management Plan, published in January 2020, identified Havre des Pas, St Aubin’s Harbour and St Helier as areas subject to flooding.
Deputy Binet said: ‘Given the degree of potential interventions that may be required as part of the major civil works, it is essential that we gather Islanders’ views to help inform the decisions made.
‘Infrastructure, Housing and Environment is working through outline options of schemes that will then be presented to Islanders and key stakeholders. Various methods of engagement, such as focus groups, surveys, and direct public engagement, will be used over the coming years.’
He added: ‘Community engagement will begin in mid-2023 and will continue on a rolling basis through the design development, planning, and construction phases for the various schemes.
‘The current Shoreline Management Plan contains an assessment of the risks, consequences, and actions necessary for forward planning to ensure the Island remains protected against coastal flooding into the next century.’
