{"id":100472,"date":"2020-02-02T16:41:27","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T20:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=100472"},"modified":"2020-02-02T16:41:27","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T20:41:27","slug":"doe-approves-some-aspects-of-peace-love-happiness-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/doe-approves-some-aspects-of-peace-love-happiness-project\/","title":{"rendered":"DoE Approves Some Aspects Of Peace Love & Happiness Project"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Department of Environment (DoE) would like to bring awareness and clarifications for the Peace Love and Happiness Development (PLH) Development in Barbuda which encompasses 650 acres of the Coordination Lagoon National Park (CLNP).<\/p>

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On 23 October 2017, the DoE received a Development Control Authority (DCA) master plan and application from PLH. \u00a0The plan was sent to the DOE for review and a Terms of Reference was issued for an Environmental Impact Assessment.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Master plan included several elements:<\/p>\n

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  1. A marina within the Codrington Lagoon;<\/li>\n
  2. 81 beach front lots at Low Bay<\/li>\n
  3. High end cottages and homes (Jumby Bay Model);<\/li>\n
  4. Golf course with about 400 homes;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    The project is being done in Phases and so the EIA focused on the overall development based on the following information provide by the DOE:<\/p>

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    1. The Marina was in a protected area and was not recommended for approval;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      1. 81 beach front lots were originally cited in an area that was identified as a no protection area as per the Parliamentary Land Use Plan of Antigua and Barbuda and was not recommended for consideration and\/or approval;<\/li>\n
      2. The golf course was being proposed for the area of Barbuda where there has been extensive sand mining. This area was severely degraded of original vegetation, wildlife and even sand dune protection.\u00a0\u00a0 This area was recommended for full approval;<\/li>\n
      3. The housing lots are also expected to get approval after further review, but a submission to DCA has to be made for each house plot as per the normal practice;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        The EIA was conducted and submitted to the DoE in January 2018. It presented an analysis of key risk factors that would affect the development and identified areas where further studies were required to refine mitigation measures that could be used to reduce risks to acceptable levels.\u00a0 The DoE and the Fisheries Divisions both agreed with the measures outlined in the EIA and also submitted additional recommendations. The DoE therefore recommended Conditional Approval only for the Palmetto mainland aspects of the project and excluded development on the Sand Bar on the southern end of the Lagoon northwards.<\/p>

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