Mahon: Rethink major coastal development

As more major hotel projects hugging Barbados’ coastlines are being earmarked, a leading fisheries and marine biology expert has urged the government and developers to rethink long-term coastal development.

Professor Robin Mahon’s call followed Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy Adrian Forde’s recent announcement in the House of Assembly that the government plans to partner with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to strengthen coastal areas hit by storm surges during Hurricane Beryl last year.

While Professor Mahon welcomed the news of scientific studies and environmental assessments, he questioned the long-term wisdom of continuing to build major infrastructure, usually tourism-related, along the island’s vulnerable coast.

He said: “It is really about a perspective on development that many places are withdrawing from the coast [and] leaving buffers between the coast and what they build. I was just on the Gold Coast in Australia and the entire coast has a buffer of maybe 300 metres and everything built is behind that, but we seem to be continuing with the model of building on the coast.”

The professor noted that the debate is particularly relevant given the plans to redevelop the Holetown Civic Centre site into a 100-room hotel valued at $176 million. The multimillion-dollar project, slated for prime beachfront property, promises economic benefits but raises concerns about environmental sustainability and storm resilience.

Professor Mahon acknowledged that current plans comply with the physical development plan but urged a reassessment of long-term coastal strategies.

He said: “I just question whether that is a good long-term perspective. I mean, the proposed development in Holetown that has raised such a fuss is an example of that. Is it really wise to put that there in light of potential storms and so forth? Would it be better off, as some have proposed, inland, with a nice view of the sea and a shuttle to the sea? 

“That works in lots of places [and] I don’t think we’ve seriously considered that. [In the end] it’s up to the developers if they want to take that risk, and Barbados hasn’t done anything, I think, much to prevent it.” (SB)