New projects to take Beau Vallon’s Golden Mile farther ahead

New projects to take Beau Vallon’s Golden Mile farther ahead - 10.05.2013
. Consultations planned

New amenities are planned for the well-frequented part of the Beau Vallon beach known as Golden Mile where a number of projects will take the area far ahead in development when implemented.

The ministers responding to questions

The development will include a new police station, a fire station, a better walkway or promenade, a public recreational park and enhanced parking for visitors.

There will also be new recreational area for beach volleyball, tennis, basketball, a stage area for public gatherings and entertainment as well as kiosks for artisans and refreshments.

Later projects will include new walkways and more public parking area and a pathway that will link Golden Mile with areas just beyond the Mare Anglaise beach area.

The plan was presented to members of the public by Home Affairs and Transport Minister Joël Morgan, Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange and Land Use and Housing Minister Christian Lionnet at the Beau Vallon district administration hall last Saturday.

This was the second round of consultations on the proposed work and more discussions are planned.
Members of the public were shown visual presentations of the plans.

Golden Mile is the stretch of beach at Beau Vallon which has long been a well visited area located between the current and recently renovated Coral Strand hotel and the beach restaurant La Plage.

The plan to rehabilitate the beach front would as well cater for and enhance services currently not provided for and would add value to this area for residents and visitors alike.

The idea to enhance the area was discussed at a meeting of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in April 2012. Subsequently, draft plans were drawn up and presented to the stakeholders from Beau Vallon in a first meeting late last year.

Mr Morgan on Saturday said the future of Beau Vallon would be best safeguarded by everyone working closely together.

“With this proposal, government is opening new possibilities and proposing new joint actions. I believe that everyone should come together to enhance Beau Vallon and make it the tourism and recreational area it deserves to be,” he said.

“Together we need to look at a comprehensive approach to improve transport and other infrastructure, to provide for better leisure facilities for our people, improve law and order and to upgrade the general environment and esthetics of Beau Vallon. Everybody who is a stakeholder should partake in this responsibility and we should come together as a team to make this proposal realisable.”

One of the presentations in progress

Those present asked questions and offered ideas where there were concerns about the project. Of concern were issues pertaining to the environment of the area, street lighting, pavements, how residents would be affected by more buildings and people in the area as well as traffic congestion.

During the meeting, it was made clear that public events such as Regatta, Bazar Labrin, Subios and other popular meetings would continue to be held at the recreational park location in the future, and as a result of the project, under more pleasant surroundings.

The public are invited to visit the website of the Ministry of Land Use and Housing (http://www.luh.gov.sc/) to view the current proposal, which will be posted shortly for further comments or consideration.

http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=31452

Praslin districts’ land use plans get statutory status - 10.05.2013

The land use plans for Grand Anse and Baie Ste Anne Praslin have received statutory status.

This follows the signing last month by the Land Use and Housing Minister Christian Lionnet of an official gazette notice making the draft land use plans for the two districts a statutory instrument – a first in the history of Seychelles.

This means that all constructions, developments and investment projects have to be made as per the plans and no review is possible before the next five to 10 years.

Terry Biscornet, a consultant working with the Seychelles Planning Authority, said until now all draft land use plans drawn have only been used as planning development and investment guidelines which could be subjected to reviews and they have never reached statutory status level.

He said the government came up with the decision to give statutory status to land use plans for each district a couple of years ago in its effort to help the planning authority to better organise its operations and decision-making and make easier the work of draftsmen and architects. As for land and property owners, such a decision to legalise land classification will give them a clear idea of the types of construction or development projects they can or cannot carry out on their land.

For potential investors consulting the plans, they would be better informed of the different areas earmarked for different types of projects.

The planning authority received help from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to do the project of drafting land use plans for each district. The different plans have already been completed and were finalised in January this year and have been submitted to the cabinet.

The drafts of the first four plans for La Digue, Anse Royale, Baie Ste Anne and Grand Anse Praslin were gazetted and submitted for public consultation, inspection so they can voice any objections or make suggestions in view of having the plans readjusted where required before receiving final approval.

Mr Biscornet said the plans for Praslin have already been approved, as for that of La Digue it has been delayed while the authorities await the results of a carrying capacity study for the island which has just been done.

“With regard to the plan for Anse Royale there are some issues which are still being analysed,” said Mr Biscornet. He added that the plans for the two Praslin districts were straight forward and there were not many objections and issues raised.

To prevent delays with regard to legalising land classification in the plans for the remaining districts, Mr Biscornet said it is important for the public, land and property owners to go and inspect the plans when they are called upon to do so as it is important for any future projects and development they may have.

“It is important that all persons concerned seek clarifications and inspect the draft plans to see how the use of their property has been classified before everything is finalised as another review will not be possible until after five to 10 years,” added Mr Biscornet.

All districts are expected to have their land use plan become a statutory document before the end of the year or early next year if all goes according to plan, Mr Biscornet said.

The public, land and property owners will be called upon in due course to come and inspect the draft plans of the plans and Mr Biscornet said it is important for everyone concerned to do the exercise as it will affect any future plans or projects they may have to develop on their property.

Source Seychelles Nation

The H Resort has ‘bin wheelie’ helpful!

26-January-2016
The H Resort has donated fourteen blue wheelie bins to the Beau Vallon district administration.
Thirteen bins will be used along the beach front, in the area that hosts the Bazar Labrin, and one for the bus stop directly outside The H Resort.
The donation is part of The H Resort’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, undertaking social progress and conducting its day-to-day business in a way that creates greener environmental values for its guests, the Beau Vallon community and its employees.
Present to receive the wheelie bins were the district’s member of the National Assembly Mirena Souris and administrator Barbara Stravens.
Dominique Richard-Hebert, general manager of The H Resort, commented:
“This is another small but significant way to show our continued wish to support the district administration and in this case, its efforts to keep Beau Vallon clean for all, residents and the many tourists that visit.”
He noted that the donation of these wheelie bins is part of the resort’s corporate social responsibility, which is about recognising the interests of those arounds us and the impact our operations have on the community at large.
“We feel very much part of the Beau Vallon community and will continue to explore ways in which we can actively contribute,” he added.
Thanking The H Resort for “this kind and very useful gesture”, Honourable Souris said she hopes this will be the start of many such gestures in the future.
“These wheelie bins will be put to immediate good use, as we continue in partnership with the community, to ensure that we all do the utmost to keep Beau Vallon clean for all,” she said.

Source Seychelles Nation