From left, Anneke Tsjalma and Ton Franssen of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Government Commissioner Marcolino “Mike” Franco and Austin van Heijningen and Anthony Reid of the Department of Economy and Infrastructure.
ST. EUSTATIUS–A multitude of infrastructural projects were discussed during Thursday’s town hall meeting, to which a good number of persons turned out.
Government Commissioner Marcolino “Mike” Franco spoke about the ground breaking for the container-extension project at the harbour of November 7. The 10th European Development Fund (EDF) is financing the project for two million euros. The island government of St. Eustatius added 400,000 euros to project and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management I&W added an extra US $600,000 to cover the extra cost for surfacing.
The underground cabling project, which is being funded by the 11th EDF, was also discussed. Their project will be carried out in four phases, which entails installing high tension and various other cables underground. The first phase started in Rosemary Lane and is scheduled to end at the Road to Whitewall.
Interim Director of Economy and Infrastructure E&I Anthony Reid explained the road project. The original masterplan for the roads was drafted in 2013. Reid said the plan showed that a large percentage of Statia’s roads are either in serious deteriorating condition or are unpaved.
The plan had to be re-evaluated to ensure that the project had the best possible outcome for success. The plan also includes incorporating the underground cabling, street lighting, water drainage and erosion projects.
The contract for the Cherry Tree project, the first road to be tackled, was signed in November between the local government and Koop Caribbean/ARC Construction.
The roads will be constructed with concrete instead of asphalt due to the high cost, but the sidewalks will be built with bricks so that whenever any maintenance is being carried out this can be done without breaking up the streets. Reid said that government is making sure that the materials to be used will be durable.
The Jeems Road project will commence after Cherry Tree, followed by the much-anticipated repairs to Mansion Road from Queen Beatrix Medical Centre to Seventh Day Adventist/Lynch Plantation School and Orange Bay Road. There is $10.7 million available for the road project.
Austin van Heijningen (E&I) spoke about erosion along the cliff at the bay side. The first two phases of the project are being addressed. Claes Gut near Fort Oranje is being repaired and cleaned out by CBT and Sons. The area around Fort Orange will be stabilized. Various other steps will be taken to limit the erosion. This project will commence in the first quarter of 2019.
Director of St. Eustatius National Parks STENAPA Clarisse Buma posed the question whether government will be addressing the other areas along the cliff. It was announced that there are no immediate plans to address the erosion problems at other locations.
Gershon Lopes of the Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery LVV said they are making cages to trap goats to help stem some of the erosion problems along the cliffs.
Anneke Tsjalma of the ministry of I&W provided details about the short-, mid- and long-term study that was conducted on the coastal erosion. This study has been ongoing for the past two decades. She said a decision needs to be made soon to protect the coast as well as the coastal road.
Lopes recommended using reef balls to stem the erosion. The reef, he said, would create marine life and Statia could also benefit from a snorkelling park.
I&W’s airport project manager Ton Franssen discussed airport erosion. He said Statia has many crisis areas; one such is the Solar Park, which is contributing to the erosion at the end of F.D. Roosevelt Airport’s runway.
Franssen said that among plans is the construction of a drainage system along Biesheuvelweg, as well as water storage close to NuStar Statia Terminal’s premises.
Franssen explained that the construction of storage basins and a reinforced overflow to the sea is necessary to stem the increasing erosion. This problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible, he said.
This project is slated to start in 2019. The airport erosion is one of the priority projects that will be addressed as part of the drainage master plan. Oranjestad as well as other parts of the island are also to be addressed.
An update about the new airport terminal and tower was also given. The three-storey AFISO tower will have a 360-degree angle for a better overview of the area for flight information officers.
The original plan has been further adapted since it was introduced to the public in October. The check-in area and departure hall will be adapted and be better protected from the elements. The building is expected to be four times the size of the current structure and will be built next to the current terminal.
A tender for the contract took place on December 3. Franssen said they anticipate the project to begin in the third quarter of 2019, with an anticipated completion at the end of 2020.
Commissioner Franco said that all interested contractors are invited to submit a bid for the project at Mike van Putten Youth Centre/Lion’s Den on January 9, 2019, at 9:30am.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83731-multitude-of-infrastructural-projects-discussed-during-townhall-meeting
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