$50m master plan to be developed for Negril

WESTERN BUREAU:

With a $50-million budget at their disposal, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) are now working in tandem to create a master plan for the future development of the Hanover section of the resort town of Negril.

An introductory presentation of the plan was made to the Physical Planning and Environment Committee of the Hanover Municipal Corporation on Tuesday by Isau Bailey, a senior physical planner at NEPA. A master plan is a dynamic long-term planning document that provides a conceptual layout to guide future growth and development of an area.

According to Bailey, Cabinet has mandated the development of the plan, which is aimed at creating a New Negril area. When completed, it will result in both a 'New' and an 'Old' Negril. The New Negril area being conceptualised begins at the Westmoreland/Hanover parish boundary, and goes north to just outside of Lucea, the Hanover parish capital.

"Basically, they (Cabinet) were looking at an area where they could allow for some higher buildings and higher population density, in order for us to better manage our natural resources," explained Bailey. "We want to better plan for the area, while at the same time protecting the fragile natural resources. We will be looking at some strategies and some new development policies along that stretch of coast."

SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED

The NEPA official mentioned that several government and non-government agencies and organisations, along with individual landowners within the designated development area, are stakeholders, noting that they will all be consulted to create the development of the plan.

"We will be doing an updated area profile, also some detailed analysis, to come up with a vision of what this New Negril will look like," stated Bailey.

Bailey also noted that plans for land use, physical development, disaster risk management, climate-change adaptation and mitigation, infrastructural development, social development, economic development and financial development will all be done.

"The project started from April this year with some background work being put together. A reconnaissance survey will be done this month, and a land use and study survey by January to February in 2019, along with ongoing stakeholder consultations," said Bailey.

"By July 2019, we should have some 3D model images, and by October 2019, the draft master plan document should be fully prepared and ready for the surveying so that the various stakeholders can give their comments and feedback."