The GSD have issued a statement regarding the Eastide Development.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

As the GSD has long advocated, the development of the Eastside must be sensitive to Catalan Bay village and its beach.  The GSD understands the need for a regeneration and development of the Eastside that finally removes the rubble  mountain after many years of broken GSLP promises and injects economic growth. But such development cannot be  at the expense of our natural and built environment. We have obligations to future generations which should not be  sacrificed in the pursuit of supposed short-term economic benefit.  

Shadow Minister for the Environment, Giovanni Origo stated the following: 

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that any development safeguards this unique part of Gibraltar. I raised  this issue in Parliament recently. The Chief Minister said that the developer will undertake nourishment and monitoring  of Eastern Beach and Catalan Bay for a period of ten years, with obligations continuing thereafter if deemed necessary.  While that is, in and of itself welcome, it clearly implies that it is envisaged that the development may have a negative  impact on the beach. Furthermore, while the Chief Minister also said that the beaches will “reach equilibrium” within  ten years, that forecast was not set out in terms of a guarantee, it was, at best, a projection but one that carries the  implication of long-lasting effects. 

The Government also made clear that it supported the proposed marina and breakwater at Catalan Bay despite  concerns raised by residents about the impact on coastal dynamics and the visual encroachment. It is important to  remind people also that during the election campaign, the GSLP/Libs issued letters to residents noting that it was  committed to protecting Catalan Bay, describing it, as “the jewel in the crown”. It promised that no aspect of the East  Side Development, would encroach beyond the southernmost point of the reclamation. However, the images  submitted suggest otherwise, presenting a real danger that this commitment will also be breached. Will this be another  broken GSLP promise?”