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The Committee received and considered the report from the Senior Coastal Advisor and Coastal Manager, Coastal Partnership East.
The Senior Coastal Advisor gave a presentation to Committee.
The Senior Coastal Advisor gave an overview of the project and reported that following salient areas as follows:-
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the high-level technical and economic assessment which has been completed for the deteriorating sea wall frontage at South Denes, Great Yarmouth. The objective of the report is to investigate options for maintaining the ‘hold-the-line’ policy. High-level coastal management options have been compared against agreed criteria to identify a preferred option. A Partnership Funding Calculator has been used to determine the high-level maximum eligible grant in aid funding for the preferred option. The next steps have been identified to move the preferred option forward to the detailed economic justification and design stages.
Councillor Jeal reported that the degradation of the seawall was the result of Peelports tarmacking up to the seawall over the top of sand and they should be asked to contribute to the remedial works. Councillor Robinson-Payne agreed with Councillor Jeal. The Senior Coastal Advisor informed the Committee that the main cause of the failure was the quick succession of 3 storms which had generated wave damage in that area combined with the weight of material behind the wall. Councillor Jeal reported that the Council should aim for funding to undertake the 400m scheme if at all possible.
Councillor Jeal questioned why Peelports had been able to erect a security fence on top of our seawall which was not in their possession. The Head of Property & Asset Management informed the committee that this is being investigated.
Councillor Robinson-Payne asked why Peelports had tarmacked the area when the land did not belong to them. The Head of Property & Asset Management informed the committee that Peelports had a long lease on the land and had only tarmacked 3 metres back from the seawall.
Councillor Fairhead asked for clarification as to the proposed size of the boulders to be used in the project.
Councillor P Hammond suggested that the sea wall should be raised as part of this project to future proof if for the predicted 1 in 200 storm event.
Councillor P Carpenter endorsed Councillor Jeal's suggestion that the Council should try and secure funding for the 400m of coastal protection as opposed to 200m and asked what the timescale for completion was. The Senior Coastal Advisor reported that the indicative timeline, if funding was secured, was to start on site in 2024. The Head of Property & Asset Management reported that this will depend on availability of funding.
Councillor Waters-Bunn asked for confirmation as to where exactly the rock would be placed. The Senior Coastal Advisor informed her that it would be placed on the front of the existing sea wall at the base.
Councillor Bird reported that this was disappointing news as there used to be a very good public beach at the Harbours Mouth and he would hate this project to result in what had happened at Lowestoft; a pile of rocks covered in green, slimy, foul smelling algae. Councillor Bird asked if rocks could be put at the bottom of the bases of the groynes to provide additional protection. The Coastal Advisory Manager reported that there would not be enough funds to undertake both schemes.
The Head of Property & Asset Management informed the Committee that the Council would approach private businesses in the area, for example, the Power Station, to see if they were willing to add to the funding pot to protect their assets.
Councillor Bensly reported that he fully supported the scheme but was jealous that this scheme might be delivered before the Hemsby coastal protection scheme.
Councillor Talbot asked what the Council was doing in the interim period to protect the seawall as 2024 was a long way away. The Senior Coastal Advisor reported that remedial works had been undertaken and the wall was being monitored.
Councillor A Wright was concerned that the proposed area of seawall was located in the Enterprise Zone and heavy engineering works might damage the area as it was built on a sand spit. Remedial works could further undermine the integrity of the seawall leading to more trouble and suggested that the area needed piling. Marram grass on the sand dunes stretching from the Pleasure Beach to the Outer Harbour provided a natural sea defence. Councillor Wright asked whether any funding for the Enterprise Zone could be utilised as part of this project to fund the 400m proposal. The Head of Property & Asset Management reported that all funding avenues would be explored during the next phase of the project which included putting together a robust business case and considering Pot B funding opportunities.
RESOLVED:-
That the Environment Committee :-
1. Notes progress on this work to date.
2. Approves that the Head of Property and Asset Management procures under delegated powers using funds from the existing Coast Protection Reserves Budget, the production of an outline business case and other necessary preconstruction assessments such as those outlined below to support an anticipated submission for capital funding from the Environment Agency for construction of a rock revetment.
a. detailed condition survey of the existing sea wall at South Denes,
b. detailed economic assessment of the potential impact of coastal flood inundation and coastal erosion related to the deteriorating sea wall frontage at South Denes
c. economic review of future construction, operation and maintenance costs of the proposed rock revetment, within the context of inflationary pressures facing the wider economy under present economic conditions.
d. scoping and screening of environmental designations for the proposed rock revetment scheme, to inform the requirement for environmental impact assessment and consents as deemed necessary; and
3. Approves that Great Yarmouth Borough Council utilises the local government SCAPE framework to procure the production of the outline business case and necessary supporting pre-construction activities.