Treasure Beach Imported Residents are Against the Construction OF Canal to Aleviate Flooding

RESIDENTS in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth are fiercely divided over the construction of a drainage system that is expected to ease flooding in the area.
Some residents have welcomed the building of a canal by the National Works Agency (NWA), saying it would help to drain excess water from the vicinity of the ponds to the sea. But there are others who argue that the design of the system would pose serious environmental risks.


Calabash Bay resident, Keith Stone, illustrates where flood waters engulfed his home last year when the pond in front of his house overflowed due to the rains brought on by Hurricane Wilma. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)
Last year, rains associated with Hurricane Wilma caused the Great Pond as well as other natural ponds in the Great Bay area to overflow, flooding the community. A number of residents were marooned, while some were forced to flee their houses as the flood water reached windows and roofs. However, the government later pumped the waters from the community.
Great Bay, which has a population of more than 300 people, is just one of several bays constituting the Treasure Beach area, which is considered a "natural catchment" for water running off the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Alex Wichterich, owner of the Marblue Domicil and Varandah Suites in Calabash Bay, told the Observer that a part of the canal was supposed to run on his property. He said that while he did not object to the canal being built, he was against the fact that it would collect debris in the same manner a septic tank would, causing the sea to become polluted.


The canal in Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, which is currently under construction.
"Garbage, contaminated water. dead cows - which are normally in the pond - are going to be dumped on the beach," Wichterich said. "We are not against helping the people in Great Bay, it is a city under water and it is a horrible story, but how they would like to do it is definitely too much," he added.
Wichterich, who has been living in Calabash Bay - another community in Treasure Beach - since 2002, suggested that as an alternative, the NWA ought to use pipes, equipped with a filtering system, to catch the debris.
But during a town meeting held in the community on Monday, Steven Shaw, communications and customer service manager at the NWA, told the residents that this route had been explored by both internal and external engineers, who came to the conclusion that it would be unsuitable for this particular area. And as it relates to filtering the water that flows into the sea, Shaw explained that the canal was set up to collect excess water from the pond, which then flow into the sea.
Work on the canal, which is budgeted to cost the government $16 million, started approximately three weeks ago. Shaw said the canal - which is 50 per cent completed - would be 27 feet high, nine centimetres wide and 500 metres long, on completion. While Shaw could give no definitive answers as to when the work would be completed, he told the residents that it would take six to eight weeks for the work to be completed.
Unlike Wichterich, Keith Stone, who has been living in Calabash Bay for more than 10 years, said he had no objection to the canal.
"I would rather have the canal than have to get up 12 o'clock at night and have to swim in the pond after my dog, because the pond has overflowed," he said.
Stone's house is situated directly in front of one of the many ponds in Treasure Beach, and therefore he has had to relocate his fences to facilitate the building of the canal. The NWA reimbursed him for the cost incurred in relocating the fences; but for Stone, the inconvenience was a small price to pay.
"Every time it rains I feel like I am going to have a heart attack because I know what might happen," Stone commented.
Stone, a retired tool setter, told the Observer that not only does the water overflow the pond into his yard when it rains, but he has also been plagued by crocodiles.
He recalled that during the onslaught of Hurricane Wilma, there was more than four feet of water in his house. He also lost most of his furniture to water damage.
But even in his time of distress, Stone found time to assist his neighbours.
"I use my boat to rescue people in Great Bay. I also used my boat to bring them food," Stone said.
Like Stone, Vincent Parchment, a resident of Great Bay who attended the town meeting, said he was elated that the government had finally responded to the community's plea for a drainage system.
However, Parchment echoed the concerns of some of the residents at the meeting who had questioned the ability of the canal to avert storm surges from flowing through the canal back into the ponds.
"I had to ride out the hurricane at my home. The water didn't come inside my house, but it was waist high in my yard," Parchment said, adding that he was able to "catch fish" from his verandah.
"As long as they address that problem then everything will be fine," he added.
In response, Shaw told the residents that their concerns were legitimate and that the NWA would be willing to look into the issues raised.
"We are willing to listen and agree on the best way forward. But to say that the project must be stopped, that is not going to happen," Shaw warned.
But the residents were adamant that the canal should not be a 'quick fix' that would not be effective enough to protect them from the flooding that plagues the community.
"It have to fix proper because I don't want to drown," a resident interjected.
But Austin Rochester, a shopkeeper in Great Bay, said that while he was grateful that something was now being done to relieve the flooding in the community, he felt that the government had taken too long to build the canal.
"They started too late, because hurricane season start already and they not even reach half-way yet," he complained, adding the rain fell every week since the beginning of the hurricane season.
Rochester, like most of the residents at the town meeting, said he was disappointed that there was no technical representative from the NWA to answer some of their questions as it was apparent that Shaw was unable to answer questions pertaining to the intricacies of the canal.
Nevertheless, Rochester said he believed the canal would prevent the flooding and that he was "glad for it".
Shaw agreed that another meeting involving a technical person should be scheduled as soon as possible.

This is an article posted in a local paper. I think the sensational headline will sell papers, however, I find it to be incorrect.

To the best of my knowledge everyone I have spoke with - born residents, imported residents, residents living abroad, etc. - had the same questions and concerns regarding the construction of the canal. Those questions were posted on this site by the Citizens Alert Group of TB and were given to the Senate with the community seeking answers. No one wants to find a solution to one problem, and at the same time create further environmental and flooding issues for the community.

It is my understanding that most of these questions and concerns were addressed at the meeting and after the meeting on Monday. Unfortunately, Mr. Shaw was not able to answer some specific questions regarding the flood gates and fencing. Fortunately, after the meeting those questions were answered once Mr. Shaw made a phone call. The answer was flood gates and fencing will be incorporated into the design. I can't help but wonder if Mr. Shaw was better prepared to answer these key questions, the meeting would have gone quite differently as these were the main concerns for many attending.

Once again, false rumors abound regarding villa owners vs. residents, etc. We need to look hard into these rumors and make sure we are dealing with facts and not fiction. To the best of my knowledge, no one is against the construction of the canal - as the above article states. But also, as the above article states, there were legitimate concerns as to how it would be constructed. We need to proceed with level heads as a community joined together to work for the betterment of all.

It is my understanding from information given to us at the meeting that the digging of the canal has been temporarily stopped while they install the box culvert bridge and finish procurring the land needed to complete the project.

Will we ever learn that anger and false rumors only destroy? Let's take time to ask instead of accuse, participate in meaningful dialogue and put our energies into working together to maintain and improve a community which we all hold dear to our hearts.

I will talk to to my family & friends in Great Bay (where I am building my own home) before I make up my mind about this.

Well said Rebecca.I think sometimes people read but do not understand what they read and then get on the internet and voice their concern in anger.
People please read and re-read before you voice your negative opinions if not please restrain from participating all together.I'm not angry just trying to stop some of the anger.

Is it possible that the canal is really 27 *feet* high and 9 *centimeters* wide? (There are the dimensions stated in the article.) Those seem like totally insane proportions. Could someone clarify, please?

S.

Those are correct dimensions.

I'm sorry, but I have to ask again: 27 FEET high? That means the canal is going to be taller than most of the houses in TB? That doesn't make sense. And 9cm is 3.5 inches. How can this drainage canal be less than 4 inches wide? If those really are the dimensions, please explain the rationale for such a weird size. The photos posted of the digging that's been done don't seem to match these numbers.

Seth

Ok, after seeing the first of Nickell's photos I'm willing to believe the 27 feet measurement ... but that ditch is definitely much more than 9cm wide.
Seth

Seth I was thinking the same thing...I'm not too good at conversions but isn't 9 centimeters only 3.5 inches? The canal would be 27 feet deep/high x 3.5 inches wide x 1640 feet long? I totally cannot picture this.

Sorry 9 meters, not centimeters, which is just shy of 30 feet. Also Seth it is 27 feet deep, not high.

Is it fair to say the dimensions will be approx. 9m (30 feet) wide, 8m (27 feet) deep/tall, and 500m (1650 feet) long?

I can only say, it's about time that something is done. At least the problem is being addressed.The approach may not turn out to be the best one but it sure beats promises promises. For too many years this has been the case and this is probably why there is so much frustration built up. Let's just give it a try, afterall what is the alternative?

WOW that's huge! I'm looking forward to seeing it in person in November, hope it all works out and no flooding this season.

I hope no one falls into this gully.

If there is injury, who is liable?

It gwine fence?

Who gwine maintain the fence?

By abroad on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 09:40 am:
I can only say, it's about time that something is done. At least the problem is being addressed.The approach may not turn out to be the best one but it sure beats promises promises. For too many years this has been the case and this is probably why there is so much frustration built up. Let's just give it a try, afterall what is the alternative?


Thank you !!!!

Although I am concerned for the enviornment I am most concernrd abot people lives & homes being in immediate danger.

As stated in a previous message, the NWA assured us the area will be properly fenced in.

Also, there is a rumor going around regarding a petition to stop the works on the canal. I made one phone call and found out this is not true. There was talk of a petition when the NWA were not supplying answers to important questions everyone had on the construction of the canal. Since the questions have been answered at the meeting on Monday, there was no need for the petition.

Again, it was stated in the meeting and above that the digging of the canal has been temporarily stopped by the NWA while they install the box culvert bridge and finish procurring the land needed to complete the project.

Lastly, please click here to read over the guidelines for posting a message on this board. Heated words and threats will not be posted, full stop.

I tend to agree with you nurse Ratchet, In the past my relatives would fish from Panty Hole (old Wharf)along the reefs all the way down to Johns Rock(frenchman)but most recently all they would catch now is a cold.The coast line is being depleted with human waste along that corridor.

The people of Treasure Beach have an inherit right for survival, and this takes precedence with or without development.