Jan 30 - Government Sets The Record Straight On North Mole Reclamation
The Government notes that considerable misinformation is being circulated in sectors of the Spanish media regarding the reclamation project at the North Mole in connection with the new power station.
The Government says it is important to make clear the following facts.
- This reclamation is not a new project. It has been around since July 2013.
- The reclamation is not taking place in the area where the artificial reef was created. It is located elsewhere in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters next to the North Mole.
- The project has gone through all proper procedures relating to the Town Planning Regulations and in particular the Environmental Impact Assessment procedures.
The fact that everything has been carried out in accordance with Gibraltar and EU law and practice is demonstrated in the timeline below.
July 2013
TSD submit Building Application for the proposed Reclamation at North Mole. Project becomes BA12714
September 2013
Town Planning advise that an Environmental Impact Assessment will be required for this project
September 2013
Following an invitation to provide quotations AMEC are appointed to prepare a scoping Report and Environmental Impact Assessment for the project
November 2013
Scoping Report is sent to Town Planning for review
February 2014
Town Planning Department revert and confirm that in accordance with the Town Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations) 2001 and Environmental Impact Assessment and subsequent Environmental Statement would be required for this project.
19 May 2014
Environmental Statement is completed by AMEC and submitted to Town Planning and consultation period with stakeholder is entered into.
June 2014
TSD advise Town Planning that the scheme will be amended slightly so that there will be additional caissons provided in lieu of a Rock Revetment
June 2014
Town Planning advises that an amended EIA be prepared to reflect changes to the scheme.
July 2014
AMEC provide amended Environmental statement for the revised scheme and this is submitted to Town Planning for review and circulation to Stakeholders. All necessary public notices are published in the press and posted on site in accordance with the regulations.
28th August 2014
BA12714 is heard at the 12th meeting of 2014 of the Development and Planning Commission and approval is granted.
The reality, says the Government, is that the North Mole reclamation has been on the cards for a very long time and a considerable amount of information has been made available in the public domain, including at meetings of the Development and Planning Commission which have also taken place in public. The question to ask, says Number Six, is why this has become an issue in Spain at the precise moment when the Chief Minister is due to address an invited audience in Madrid next week. It is obvious, says the Government, that yet another exercise in inciting hatred against Gibraltar in the Spanish media is about to begin.
