Plans to fill Les Vardes Quarry with water are progressing, with it now suggested that Black Rock be used for inert waste disposal as part of that scheme.
Black Rock is a potential land reclamation site adjacent to Griffiths Yard on Northside.
The area is already industrial with some businesses based at Griffiths Yard as well as the nearby Vale Castle Industrial Estate.
Plans for the Bridge area could see further developments nearby in future years including the creation of a new retail centre at the old Quayside site, and the long awaited development of Leale’s Yard.
The Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure has said the two schemes will need to run together as part of a long term infrastructure plan to meet Guernsey’s inert waste disposal and future water storage needs.
The Committee says ‘detailed options analysis’ has been carried out, with the proposals based on technical assessments which considered costs, environmental impacts, engineering assessments, and timelines.
This analysis saw E&I discount any proposed ‘dual use’ of Les Vardes Quarry.
That could have seen the bottom of the quarry filled with inert waste before being capped with concrete before being filled with water.
E&I said there is no known precedent for this kind of dual use, so there may have been concerns around water contamination.
Other options considered to meet Guernsey’s future water needs included a desalination plant, said E&I.
But that idea was discounted because it would be too expensive.
The Committee said it has worked with both Guernsey Water and Guernsey Waste to determine the best way forward for both water storage needs and the long term disposal of inert waste.
The latter has become more urgent as previously approved plans were not progressed and the existing land reclamation site at Longue Hougue has reached capacity.
Planning permission for stockpiling is limited to three years, meaning without a clear long term route for the disposal of inert waste, Guernsey’s construction industry will be unable to function. That in turn would carry a profound impact for the wider economy, said E&I.
Committee President, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the proposed solution – of using Black Rock for inert waste and Les Vardes Quarry for water storage – will meet the island’s needs best.
“We were reminded very recently in no uncertain terms by the independent Fiscal Policy Panel that Guernsey needed to take a longer-term view of infrastructure and maintain a smooth progression of capital projects,” she said.
“That report underscored the message that not investing in our infrastructure constrained economic growth.
“This is an opportunity to invest in our infrastructure, not just to support our immediate needs but also to ensure we put the foundations in place to meet some of Guernsey’s most basic needs in the longer-term. As islanders, we’re all keenly aware of the importance of sound water management and drought resilience, and people also understand the vital importance of the construction industry at a time when housebuilding in particular is more important than ever.
“This solution provides us with a way forward that gives us far better resilience for our water needs in the short, medium and long-term, and it also supports our construction industry, and therefore, our economy, all while aligning with the Guernsey Development Agency’s vision for the Bridge.”