A new east coast marina

Monday 19th October 2009, 3:00PM BST.

From Perry Garrod.
I KNOW the idea of another marina for Jersey has been suggested many times, but having just been informed that if I were to buy a yacht I’d have to wait seven years before I might be offered a mooring, I wonder whether we should once again revisit the viability of providing additional mooring capacity, not only to service apparent local need, but to provide additional income possibilities for Jersey.

If I could, I’d suggest we build up the rock formation which lies roughly between the end of St Catherine’s breakwater and Archirondel Tower, but not closing either end to enable tidal movement.

Additional formations would doubtless be needed to protect against easterlies, but that’s for the technicians to work out. From this reclaimed strip, we’d run mooring pontoons so as not to interfere with the coastline. From Google Earth I’d imagine you could fit Elizabeth Marina in 50 or more times, which could provide equivalent income returns.

As to cost, I’ve no idea, but imagine it’ll be a fraction of that of the Elizabeth marina given we’re effectively creating a breakwater alone. Deep water moorings already exist, albeit pontoons would be added as and when income streams permitted further development.

Implications re environmental impact should be minimal, but I appreciate there’d be concerns about vehicle traffic, parking and access to town, etc. Consequently, in the first instance it would be my suggestion that this new marina would be predominantly for local boat owners, in the first instance at least.

This would free up space in town for tourist yachts. Parking could be used on the existing boat park. Additional benefits to local yachtsmen would be that France and indeed Guernsey and Alderney would be closer than mooring in St Helier.

I appreciate there are many other factors which would need to be resolved, but – optimistically – I’d hope this would be a win-win situation for all concerned, and you never know, I might one day actually be able to locate a yacht here in Jersey.
Any entrepreneurs fancy a punt?
.

1
Scott

October 20, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Hi Perry,

This is a very interesting idea but would require allot of thought to justify the requirement.

How much would the Marina cost to build and how long would it take to return the cost of building it before the island started to see a profit?

Would the marina cause a change in the marine life with diverted currents and added petrol pollution?

Ohh yeah and

The majority of islanders are living hand to mouth and can not afford to heat their Flats.

We are waiting to see if we will be seeing even more taxes due to the zero ten disaster.

I really think this is the wrong time to be looking at appeasing the lucky few like yourself who are able to afford luxuries such as a Yacht…..

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2
R B Bougourd

October 24, 2009 at 9:16 am

Don’t even think about it, Perry.
Get yourself a canoe and paddle around that reef in peace and tranquility on an August afternoon at low tide and maybe you will start to realise how special unspoilt Jersey marinescapes are.

What are you going to do to “build up the rock formation”? Quarry away Gibraltar Rock and cart it out to sea? Great. Create more parking space and provide an opportunity for making lots of lovely money to spend on yachts and marinas.

If anyone is still wondering what has happened to the money that ordinary people have been systematically and cynically relieved of over the last decade or so, look no further than the yacht marina scene. No wonder these guys need bonuses!

Hopefully the tide is turning.

Forget your marina and start enjoying the uniqueness of Jersey’s tidal coastline while there still is one.

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3
martin

October 27, 2009 at 4:06 pm

I’m for it! Somebody has to quarry the stone, build and run the marina which will supply much needed local jobs. It’ll bring tourists in from France and beyond who will hopefully spend their hard earnt money in the local pubs and restaurants.

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