Construction of sea protection wall at Consolation meets standards |22 April 2016

The construction of a sea protection wall on parcel PR6163 at Consolation on Praslin meets all the existing national development and environment legislation, standards and guidelines.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and the Planning Authority said this in a communiqué released yesterday following comments and queries from the public about the construction.

The communiqué adds that the property in question is a small one with a total surface area of 608m² and a total beach front of about 25 linear metres. The proposed and approved sea protection wall, which is to be built at an angle along the high water mark, is to be 27m long.

Approval was granted in August 2014 after the owner and developer, a Seychellois at the time, was able to meet all the necessary conditions for a small private residential development of 220m².  Approval was issued for the construction of a house and a sea protection wall and picket fence on the parcel. The wall was to be built behind the green line or high water mark i.e. beyond the beach to protect the property from beach erosion that has been affecting the coastline.

Both properties on either side of parcel PR6163 are protected by sea protection walls. This precedence contributed to the approval decision at the time.

A 2m wide public access was requested by vetting authorities and this has been set between PR6163 and the neighbouring property to ease and guarantee public access to the beach.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change adds that it has no information of turtles nesting on that particular site.

The authorities are monitoring the construction of the sea protection wall to ensure the developer adheres to the planning authority and environment conditions.

Under the Constitution of Seychelles everyone is guaranteed the right to enjoy his/her property. As long as the owner/developer meets the established national legislation, standards and guidelines the authorities cannot hinder his/her development, adds the communiqué.