Cost of flood defence project is 'worth it'

Business owners at Havre des Pas have given their support for an incoming flood defence project.

Lead engineer for coastal engineering Steve Fitzgibbon said the Havre des Pas coastal flood alleviation scheme would cost "hundreds of millions".

Geoff Mayger, owner of the Marina Metro Hotel on the promenade, said "the cost is worth it", and the project would "protect the community from the rising tide".

Sea swimmer Sally Minty-Gravett did not support the plan, and said it just "moves the problem further towards the Lido".

The scheme will see several metres of land reclaimed from La Collette to La Grande Charrière Slipway.

The most significant section of that would happen between La Collette and the former Hotel de la Plage, where up to 40 metres of land will be created.

This will allow for a two-wall system of defences, and will see the area landscaped to create new coastal gardens.

Beyond that, there will be a continuous promenade as far as the Rice Bowl restaurant, with a cycle track and improved beach access.

Fitzgibbon said 75% of people agreed flood defences were necessary.

A total of 132 people responded to a consultation on the project, with more than 200 people attending associated drop-in sessions held locally.

A report on the consultation suggested there was 'broad support for the principle of delivering long-term protection'.

"It's looking at the future risk," he said.

"About 300 properties are at risk, and in the future that goes up to 800, and 1,500 is how many this scheme will protect eventually."

The changes set out in these plans are the most extensive of four different options, and are considered by officials as the "leading concept".

If approved, work could begin in 2029.

"I think it's going to go quickly, so that shouldn't affect our business," said Florin Beclenas from Wave Beach restaurant.

"This is a good plan, it's huge progress for us as a business," he added.

Fiona Kerley, the managing director of the Ommaroo Hotel, also backed the scheme.

She said the hotel's terrace filled with seaweed and flooded with water every time there was a high tide.

"It's really good to be forward thinking and I think the danger is if you leave it too late, you end up with a crisis," she added.

"We should be looking for future generations to protect the sea defences."

Minty-Gravett was unconvinced by the plans.

"I've been mixed up with the tides all my life and when tides are big, they're still going to come over the top," she said.

"If they move the barriers further towards the sea, the tide's still going to come in, and it's going to change all the currents around that area."

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