The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE DEPARTMENT of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) is awaiting revised documents from Bahama Rock following a public consultation on its proposed 270-acre Freeport Harbour expansion, it was revealed yesterday.

Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, the environmental regulator’s director, said the aggregate miner was advised to make several changes to its submissions following the Department’s review and the public consultation, with the company now in the process of providing the requested information.

She said the public consultation report had also been completed and was expected to undergo review shortly.

“Bahama Rock was advised that several amendments to their documents needed to be updated upon our review and after the public consultation. And Bahama Rock is in the process of providing that information to the department,” said Dr Neely-Murphy.

Asked what changes were being requested, she said several issues emerged during the consultation relating to the company’s operational history, community engagement and the technology proposed for its future operations.

“Several things came out of the public consultation with respect to some of the history of Bahama Rock, and they were advised that many of those things should be addressed with respect to the community engagement and the technology moving forward to ensure that this is a sustainable production and a sustainable operation,” she said.

Dr Neely-Murphy did not detail the specific amendments being sought, but said those were the primary issues addressed through the requested updates.

The regulatory process comes amid continued opposition to Bahama Rock’s proposal, which involves excavating approximately 269.39 acres of the former Bahamas Cement Company property to extract limestone aggregate over an estimated 15 to 20 years before converting the site into an expanded Freepprt Harbour basin.

The Preserving Paradise Environmental Defense & Restoration (PPEDR) advocacy group, in its latest challenge to the project, argued that its economic case remains incomplete, questioning how much of the commercial value generated by the extraction of Grand Bahama’s limestone would ultimately benefit the Bahamian public.

The group argued that the potential scale of the resource required independent investigation before the Government authorises what it described as an irreversible transformation of the property. “What proportion of the economic value generated by this finite Bahamian natural resource will translate into lasting public wealth?” PPEDR asked.

PPEDR said employment, local procurement and electricity purchases were important economic benefits, but should not be treated as equivalent to public compensation for the extraction of a non-renewable resource.

It called for a publicly accessible, independently audited mineral resource assessment, a comprehensive fiscal benefit analysis, disclosure of relevant commercial and regulatory agreements and an evaluation of alternative land uses before any approval is granted.

The group also questioned what royalties, fees, taxes or other compensation would be payable to the Government, and whether Grand Bahama’s communities would receive a dedicated share of public revenue, infrastructure investment or environmental restoration funding.

The group further questioned whether the property’s proximity to Freeport Harbour could support alternative uses, including maritime commerce, technology, research, education, environmental restoration and mixed-use economic development.

It urged the Government to compare the financial, environmental and social outcomes of those possibilities against the proposed excavation and harbour expansion over several decades.

The latest release follows a contentious July public consultation, during which residents expressed frustration over what they described as long-standing problems associated with Bahama Rock’s operations, including blasting, vibrations, dust, flooding, ground water concerns and damage to nearby properties.

Residents questioned whether the company’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) adequately addressed historical complaintsm, and whether proposed monitoring and mitigation measures would provide sufficient protection for surrounding communities.

DEPP officials stressed at the consultation that no decision had been made on the application and that comments received would form part of the environmental review.

PPEDR subsequently filed revised objections, seeking additional information on issues including blasting frequency, the project footprint, habitat calculations, the proposed harbour infrastructure and the adequacy of public consultation.

The group also questioned whether affected communities had been given sufficient opportunity to participate, calling for additional consultation and a further written comment period if corrected project documents are disclosed.

The proposal has also become increasingly significant to the construction industry following Bahama Rock’s suspension of production in September, as the company said its existing aggregate reserves had become depleted.

Bahama Rock has warned that its closure could affect the availability and cost of construction materials nationally, while opponents have argued that the supply implications should be independently assessed and should not determine the outcome of the environmental review.

Bahamians were warned this week that concrete prices could increase by approximately 11 percent, or around $30 per cubic yard, following the loss of Bahama Rock’s local aggregate supply. The company’s proposed access to the former Bahamas Cement Company property remains subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.

PPEDR said the Government should not evaluate the development solely through short-term economic activity, but should also consider the long-term value of the land, ecosystems and alternative development opportunities being surrendered. “When a public resource generates wealth, the public should share in that wealth,” the group said.