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Hon. Pickering: Nothing will be done to destroy Trellis Bay!
Speaking last evening, March 29, 2012, at the Sir. Rupert Briercliffe Hall, Dr. Kedrick Pickering assured residents that his Ministry will try to mitigate all the possible negatives “because no matter what is finally done Trellis Bay will still function”.
“Nothing will be done to destroy Trellis Bay. So it’s a question of whatever recommendations are made by the Kraus-Manning team and then taking it beyond that with the engineers to find the right solutions,” Hon. Pickering charged.
Since Government green-lighted the project, there has been a brouhaha by organizations and citizens of how ponds and some areas near the airport will be adversely affected.
Hon. Pickering revealed to the small crowd in attendance that the “biggest problem with Trellis Bay right now is the water currents within the Bay itself.” He noted that with Government leaning towards option six in the airport development; it is likely to create a stagnant pool of water.
“So part of the environmental impact assessment has to tell us how to help prevent that. In terms of Trellis Bay itself and being able to maintain the Bay, the water current and flow there are a number of ideas on the table. One is to dig a channel parallel to the airport from Trellis Bay straight down to Well Bay. It is not as prohibitive as it sounds it is just a straight channel and the silt that we would take out we will just use it to fill out part of the airport that we will be reclaiming,” the Natural Resources Minister divulged.
Other suggestions that were put forward to Government include digging a similar channel at Strat Point because it’s a flat area on the eastern end which will allow the currents to flow, Dr. Pickering added.
Placing culverts under the airport itself was another suggestion but the disadvantage with that is, the Minister explained, “We are told by the engineers that the culverts tend to full up with silt very easily so long term it may not be the best option.”
The Natural Resources Minister further stated, “There is a suggestion of putting up a bridge in the airport. Someone has a very creative idea of putting a bridge under the airport that could be used as an artificial reef and to do things like night diving and things like that. The problem with that is its very expensive and what the engineers are saying putting a bridge at the airport is not only a difficult construction exercise but that will also be in the area where the jets having to land from the eastern end would be landing and from an engineering point of view you want to prevent that as much as possible.”
A brief synopsis of option six
At the first meeting held on March 27 in East End, Managing Director of the BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA) Denniston Frazer stated Government had two options for the airport’s expansion – four and six.
Option six, which will cost Government an estimated $38M, will have the runway extended to some 7,000 feet from 4,000 plus feet, and accommodate AB 390, 320 and the Embrea 190. This option will also reduce the environmental impact, which would save the pond and beach, reduce crosswinds, and accommodate code C and D aircrafts.
However, the disadvantages include higher weather minimums- meaning jets would have to use a height of about 1,290 feet and the runway must be visual, as well as the circling approach. The concerns include future widening will have an environmental impact on Trellis Bay and salt ponds.
And in an effort to clear the air on any doubts of how the Government is proceeding with the expansion of the main port of entry, Hon. Pickering reiterated to residents last evening that, while a decision has been made to further develop the airport, the way forward for the project depends on a number of factors that are outside Government’s control.
“The physical work to be carried out on this project will only be done when the Government of the day is satisfied that it has all the relevant information at its disposal to make the decisions that are necessary to ensure that the least and negative effects from this capital project are realized.”
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